Nov 25, 2001
By DAN GELSTON
Associated Press Writer
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - As Beth Jones put on a practice jersey for the postgame news conference, she realized it belonged to teammate Shereka Wright.
The jersey fit Jones just fine - and so did the role of leading scorer.
Jones scored 22 points, and No. 11 Purdue made 11 shots from 3-point range in an 80-40 victory Sunday over Southern Mississippi.
Kelly Komara added 15 for Purdue (3-1), which played the final 13:14 without Wright. Purdue's leading scorer had to be helped off the court after she sprained her right ankle.
Coach Kristy Curry said Wright would be evaluated Monday, and added that she didn't know if Wright would miss any time.
Wright was injured in a three-player collision, along with teammate Mary Jo Noon, while going for a defensive rebound. By that time, the Boilermakers already held a 29-point lead.
The Boilermakers made eight of 14 3-pointers in the first half. Jones finished 6-for-8, and Komara was 3-for-4.
Komara, who also had seven assists and no turnovers, said the Eagles (0-3) focused too much on stopping the inside game and left Purdue open on the perimeter.
"They were just the shots the defense was giving us," she said. "Beth got us going. When one person makes one, everybody seems to hit. It was just contagious."
Jones' previous career-high point total was 10 last season against Minnesota. She averaged 5.4 minutes a season ago, but hasn't played fewer than 12 this season.
"Once that first one fell, I kind of fell into a rhythm," Jones said. "It's something I expect of myself, to step up and help in any way I can."
Curry wants Jones to keep shooting.
"She has a green light," she said. "When she's open, I want her to shoot. I'm very pleased for her because she worked so hard in the offseason."
Jones was wide open on most of her attempts, which went against the game plan of Eagles coach Rick Reeves.
"How many times did she score off the dribble? That's what I was disappointed about," he said. "We were supposed to be in her face."
The Eagles turned the ball over in six of their first nine possessions and 26 times overall. They trailed 11-8, but Purdue went on a 19-4 run to take a 42-21 halftime lead.
A 22-8 run to start the second half stretched Purdue's lead to 35.
Wright, who averaged 16.7 points and five rebounds a game, scored nine points before her injury.
La'Tasha Sumerall scored 13 points for the Eagles, who shot 33 percent.
Southern Mississippi made three of six free throws, 1 of 2 in the first half.
The Boilermakers committed just two fouls in the first 33 minutes.
Since losing the season opener to then-No. 4 Oklahoma, Purdue has won its last three games by an average of 38 points.
The Boilermakers won their 10 non-conference games last season - not including the NCAA Tournament - by an average of 20.5 points.