Nov. 4, 2001
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue women's basketball team defeated RTU Klondaika of Latvia 96-66 in an exhibition game today in Mackey Arena. It was the Boilermakers' 16th consecutive exhibition victory and 21st all-time.
Purdue head coach Kristy Curry was pleased with her team's effort.
"I think we saw some good things," Curry said. "I think you can always find things that can be better, but that's what today is all about. We just needed an opportunity to play someone other than ourselves or our RIP squad. I was very pleased with everyone's energy and how hard they played."
One of the players who energized the Boilermakers was junior center Mary Jo Noon, who led Purdue with 26 points on 11 of 14 shooting from the field and 4 of 6 shooting from the free throw line. She also collected seven rebounds.
Despite the breakout performance, Noon quickly deflected any praise to her teammates.
"I can't take any credit for it," Noon said. "I get open, they give me the ball, I score. I give my teammates all the credit."
Noon was one of six Boilermakers in double figures. Sophomore Shereka Wright was one of the five others. The 5-foot-10 forward recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds to go along with five assists and two steals in 33 minutes.
Senior forward Laura Meadows, playing her first game as a Boilermaker after transferring from Kentucky following her junior season, also recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds with five assists and two steals.
Freshman forward Emily Heikes pitched in 14 points in 18 minutes. The rookie reserve shot 5-for-8 from the floor, 4-for-5 from the charity stripe, and hauled in eight rebounds. She also grabbed a team-high three steals.
Sophomores Beth Jones and Lindsey Hicks scored 10 points apiece. Both hit two three-pointers.
Senior Kelly Komara led Purdue with six assists.
Purdue shot 50.7 percent from the floor, including 38.5 percent from three-point range. The Boilermakers held RTU Klondaika to shooting percentages of 41.3 and 40.
Purdue converted 17 of 24 free throws (70.8 percent), while allowing RTU Klondaika just five trips to the line, resulting in two points.
The Boilermakers outrebounded their Latvian opponents 50 to 25.
According to Meadows, that work on the glass is something Purdue will pride itself on this season.
"It's been a focus since practice started to box out your man and go hard for the rebounds," Meadows said. "I think we did a good job of that. We'll just have to continue to work on that, and hopefully it will be a strength of ours."
Purdue's passing game was strong today, as well. The Boilermakers handed out 20 assists on 37 baskets and committed just 12 turnovers.
RTU Klondaika's Anete Jekabsone led all scorers with 33 points. She went 13-for-26 from the field and hit 7 of 12 three-pointers.
RTU Klondaika is now 0-3 on its Midwest tour. Its next game is tomorrow at Marquette.
Purdue will open its regular season against Oklahoma next Sunday, Nov. 11 at the State Farm Tip-Off Classic in Durham, N.C. The game will be shown live on ESPN2 at 3:30 p.m. EST.
- P -