Nov. 7, 1999
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. ? The Purdue women?s basketball team overcame a three-point halftime deficit to rout Athletes In Action 81-59 in a season-opening exhibition contest in Mackey Arena on Nov. 7. The Boilermakers are now 17-3 all-time in preseason tune-up games.
The defending national champions got off to a bit of a slow start in the first half, allowing AIA easy transition buckets and uncontested three-point shots. AIA hit six long-range bombs and converted on 53.3 percent (16-30) of its attempts from the field en route to the advantage at intermission.
Purdue used the break to regain its composure and retool its defense. The Boilermakers turned up the pressure by forcing 11 second-half turnovers while grabbing six steals (four by sophomore guard Kelly Komara alone). The defense translated into lots of offense for Purdue, which outscored AIA 42-17 in the second stanza.
Nineteen of those second-half points were scored by junior guard/forward Katie Douglas, who finished with 34. Douglas, the Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year and a Naismith Award candidate, added 10 rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block in 38 minutes, despite playing on a tender ankle. Komara chipped in 16 points, while junior center Camille Cooper, also a Naismith Award candidate, contributed 15. Senior forward Michelle Duhart led the Boilermakers with 11 rebounds.
Athletes In Action, now 4-2 on its exhibition tour, was led by Crystal Carpenter?s 18 points.
Purdue shot 50.8 percent for the night from the field (31-61) and converted on 60 percent of its three-point attempts (3-5). The Boilermakers converted 69.6 percent (16-23) of their free throws.
Purdue?s next exhibition game is slated for Monday, Nov. 15, against Soproni Postas (Hungary) at 7:30 p.m. in Mackey Arena.
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