Feb. 1, 2001
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By DAN GELSTON
Associated Press Writer
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - Purdue is one step closer to its sixth Big Ten title. If it can take any more of those steps with All-American Katie Douglas is in doubt.
Douglas left the game with a sprained left ankle, but the No. 6 Boilermakers got 19 points from Camille Cooper and extended their winning streak to 12 Thursday by beating Illinois 83-67.
The Boilermakers (20-3, 10-0 Big Ten) led by 23 points when Douglas left the game with an injury with 12:42 remaining. Douglas jumped while trying to deflect a pass and landed awkwardly on her ankle. She was helped to the bench, where the ankle was taped. She did not return and walked off the court at the end of the game on crutches.
She will have X-rays on Friday and her status for Sunday's game against Michigan is questionable.
"Katie is our leader. We hope she can come back soon," said Shereka Wright, who had 15 points and seven rebounds.
Douglas, who had eight points, was hardly needed against the Illini (10-11, 5-4). The Boilermakers led by 15 at the half and opened the second half on an 18-10 run before Douglas' injury.
Cooper scored her points on 8-of-13 shooting. She also established herself defensively with four blocked shots. Illinois' defense tried to collapse on her, but Cooper's become accustomed to the double-teaming and had little problem shaking them off.
"She's our number one, number two and number three option sometimes. She proved she's the best center in the Big Ten," point guard Kelly Komara said.
Komara's 3-pointer, she made all three of her attempts, gave Purdue a 72-46 lead, and the Boilermakers eventually led by as many as 29 points.
"We did not respond well. I'm very, very disappointed about that. Certainly, it was not one of our best efforts," said Illinois coach Theresa Grentz.
The Boilermakers shot 54 percent overall and were 6-of-11 from 3-point range. Komara and Shalicia Hurns each had 11 points.
"We had lots of different people scoring. They couldn't focus on one player. I think that wore them down," Cooper said.
Wright said Cooper was indirectly responsible for the 3-point shooting success.
"She's the star of our offense. Once we get Coop going, it opens the outside game," she said.
Illinois went on a 9-0 run midway through the first half to take a short-lived 13-10 lead. The Illini would not score more than two straight points the rest of the half.
Purdue answered with a 21-6 run, capped by a Komara 3-pointer. The Boilermakers used 58 percent shooting, including 4-of-5 from 3-point range, to hold a 43-28 halftime lead.
"I think what we did was really establish ourselves early. If we get the ball rolling, we keep it rolling," Komara said.
Iveta Marcauskaite led the Illini with 21 points and Allison Curtin had 20.