Dec. 6, 2000
VALPARAISO, Ind. - Erika Valek had 14 points and six assists as No. 6 Purdue forced 27 turnovers en route to an 89-59 victory over Valparaiso on Wednesday night.
It was the fifth straight victory for the Boilermakers (8-1), who face No. 4 Notre Dame on Saturday.
The 89 points were a season high for Purdue, which has scored 80 or more points in five games this season. The Boilermakers scored 80 or more just twice last season.
The loss was the third straight for Valparaiso (1-5), which lost its other home game this season to Notre Dame.
The game was delayed about 10 minutes when Purdue reserve center Mary Jo Noon injured her lower back in a collision. She was writhing in pain on the floor and teammates gathered around while they waited for a backboard. They held hands in a semicircle as she was placed on a stretcher.
Purdue's defense was too much for under-sized Valparaiso, which could not handle the Boilermakers' full-court press and frequently was forced to put up bad shots as the shot clock expired.
Purdue had no trouble with the Crusaders even though Katie Douglas, who leads the Boilermakers at 17 points a game, was 0-for-3 from the field and had only four points, sitting the entire second half. She has been bothered by a sore left knee.
Camille Cooper had 13 points for the Boilermakers in only 17 minutes. Shalicia Hurns and Noon also had 13 each.
Amber Schober led Valparaiso with 13 points. Kathryn Knoester and Carie Wickham added 10 points each.
After Marlous Niewveen scored from underneath to open the second half to cut Purdue's lead to 43-32, the Boilermakers went on a 16-2 run to take a 59-34 lead to put the game out of reach. After two quick baskets by Valparaiso, Purdue went on an 11-0 run to go ahead 70-38 on a basket inside by Noon, but the offense stalled briefly after Noon's injury.
The Boilermakers took control from the start, opening a 10-2 lead as Cooper and Valek each made free throws to complete three-point plays and scored two more points apiece.
Leading 14-9, the Boilermakers went to a full-court press and started forcing turnovers as Purdue went on a 14-2 run, opening a 28-11 lead when Shereka Wright scored inside.
But the Boilermakers pulled off the pressure and the Crusaders used a 16-7 run to close to 39-27. Knoester hit a 3-pointer for Valparaiso just before the halftime buzzer to cut the lead to 43-30.
By TOM COYNE
Associated Press Writer