Feb. 4, 2001
By DAN GELSTON
Associated Press Writer
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -
There is no need for All-American Katie Douglas to rush back from her sprained ankle.
Shereka Wright will be more than happy to continue to fill in.
Wright scored a career-high 25 points, and Camille Cooper added 24 as No. 6 Purdue rallied to beat Michigan 73-64 Sunday for its 13th straight victory.
Wright made her first career start as Douglas, Purdue's leading scorer, sat out with a high ankle sprain suffered in Thursday's win over Illinois, and she carried the Boilermakers down the stretch, scoring 13 points in the final 10 minutes.
"I just told Shereka, 'Katie's probably in big-time trouble.' Oh my gosh. I think we saw the depth of Purdue's team to lose a player of Katie Douglas' magnitude and have a freshman, for God's sake, step in and do the job she did," said Michigan coach Sue Guevara.
Purdue (21-3, 11-0 Big Ten) trailed 50-47 with 10:10 left, but went on a 12-2 run. Eleven of the points were scored by Wright and Cooper-all in the paint or from the free-throw line.
Cooper sank two free throws to make it 50-49, and she put Purdue ahead for good on its next possession with a layup. She then outmuscled three defenders for a rebound and put it back for a 53-50 lead.
The Wolverines (14-8, 7-5) trailed 61-59 when Jennifer Smith hit a jumper with two minutes left. But Wright, who was 10-of-16, converted a three-point play for a 64-59 lead, and Purdue then sealed the win with free throws.
"I was kind of shaky ... a little nervous at first. At the end, I got comfortable, and that really helped me," said Wright, the 2000 National High School Player of the Year.
Wright's performance was no surprise to Kelly Komara, who could tell she was anxious for the challenge.
"Sometimes great players just need to be needed. We needed somebody to step up without Katie, and she did that. Katie Douglas is an All-American, and in time Shereka Wright will be," Komara said.
Wright, Cooper and Komara, who scored 12, combined for 61 of Purdue's points. Cooper added nine rebounds, and Wright had eight.
The lead switched 10 times in the first half, with Michigan holding a 33-31 halftime edge.
The Boilermakers went on a 6-0 run and took the largest lead of the half - 20-15. The Wolverines got six points from Raina Goodlow in an 8-0 run toward the end of the half.
"I don't know who that first-half team was." Cooper said. "We should probably try and find out who that was."
Cooper, who has scored 43 points in the last two games, only had four attempts in the first half. Purdue coach Kristy Curry said she knew that number would have to double for Purdue to come back. Cooper responded with an 8-for-9 second half effort.
"I explained to them that we had to get the ball in the paint. We need to get inside first. I think that will open up the outside game," Curry said of her halftime speech.
As for Douglas, Curry said she did not know if she would be ready for Thursday's game at Iowa.
"There's no question we're not the same team without Katie on the floor, but I still believe we can be a very good team," she said.
Alayne Ingram led the Wolverines with 20 points.