Nov. 15, 1999
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. ? The Purdue women?s basketball team concluded its preseason exhibition slate with a 70-52 victory over Soproni Postas before a Mackey Arena crowd of 8,553 tonight. The Boilermakers, 2-0 in tune-ups, are now 18-3 all-time in exhibition contests. This was the second loss for the Hungarian team, which finished its American tour with a 7-2 record.
?Anytime you can come away with an 18-point win against a good basketball team you have to be pleased,? first-year Purdue head coach Kristy Curry said. ?We need to continue to work on our intensity and our consistency and limit the peaks and valleys.?
Despite a lackluster start, which saw Purdue fall back by four at the 10-minute mark, the Boilermakers regrouped to turn in a strong first-half performance. Trailing 14-10 following a jumper by Soproni?s Eszter Bakai, Purdue looked to junior guard/forward Katie Douglas to help it out of the doldrums. And she delivered, keying a 19-4 run with nine points to put Purdue ahead by 11 (29-18) six minutes later. Douglas, who scored eight of Purdue?s first 10 points, finished with 23 in the opening half.
Purdue took a 39-24 lead into the intermission, and steadily increased that advantage in the beginning of the second half. The Boilermakers? defensive intensity forced the Hungarians to turn the ball over 13 times in the second stanza, and resulted in six Purdue steals. The defense translated into offense for Purdue, which led by as many as 27 on three occasions in the final nine minutes of the game. Soproni was able to whittle the lead to 18 at 70-52, the final margin.
Douglas led the Boilermakers for the second time in as many games. In addition to scoring a game-high 28 points, Douglas dished off five assists, grabbed five rebounds and had two steals. Douglas, the preseason Big Ten Player of the Year, averaged 31.0 points per game in Purdue?s two exhibitions.
Also scoring in double figures for Purdue were junior center Camille Cooper and sophomore guard Kelly Komara, who both chipped in 13. Komara added five assists, three rebounds, a block and a steal, while senior forward Michelle Duhart hauled in a game-high eight rebounds.
The Boilermakers, who defeated Athletes In Action 81-59 in their first exhibition Nov. 7, shot 43.1 percent from the field (22-for-51), but struggled at the free throw line, shooting 23-for-35 (65.7). Purdue held Soproni to 39.2 percent shooting from the field (20-for-51) and allowed them just two three-pointers on 12 attempts.
The Boilermakers? outrebounded Soproni 39-27. Purdue committed 25 turnovers to Soproni?s 26, and both teams picked off 11 steals. Soproni fouled 29 times, compared to the Boilermakers? 16.
Soproni was led by Eszter Biro, who pitched in 21 points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots. No other Hungarian reached double figures.
Purdue will get its regular season underway this Friday, Nov. 19, when it travels to Dayton for a 7 p.m. contest with the Flyers. You can catch all the action live locally on WLFF-95.3 FM, or worldwide on www.purduesports.com.
- P -