Dec 30, 2001
By DAN GELSTON
Associated Press Writer
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - Purdue came in with a plan to shut down Michigan's post play and not fall behind early.
The Boilermakers succeeded on both parts.
Shereka Wright scored 19 points and Kelly Komara had 14 as No. 7 Purdue beat No. 12 Michigan 69-47 Sunday.
The Boilermakers (10-2, 1-1 Big Ten) made seven 3-pointers and used a 22-10 run to end the first half and put away the Wolverines (10-3, 0-2), who have lost two straight.
Laura Meadows and Komara opened the game with 3-pointers for an 11-4 run. Beth Jones hit a 3-pointer to give Purdue a 19-9 lead, then Erika Valek added two and Wright and Meadows had one each during the closing run.
It was a change from Friday's loss to No. 14 Wisconsin when the Boilermakers trailed by 16 in the first half. Komara said making shots early set the tone for Purdue.
"When one person starts hitting, it seems like everybody can't miss," she said. "Laura and I took it upon ourselves to knock down our first shots, and it just fed off of us."
Alayne Ingram led Michigan with 19 points. She made 7-of-17 shots, but the Wolverines shot only 36 percent overall.
The Boilermakers were effective in shutting down Michigan's post play. Center LeeAnn Bies was averaging 16.7 points, forward Jennifer Smith 13.2 points and forward Tabitha Pool 16.8 points. The three combined for only 18 points against Purdue.
Meadows, who scored 11 points said, the Boilermakers scouting report said they had to shutdown the frontcourt.
"We tried to focus on keeping them off the block," she said. "They're dangerous when they get the ball in that kind of position. We focused on pushing them off and we double-downed on them a couple of times."
Purdue coach Kristy Curry said she expected that kind of defensive performance from Meadows and center Mary Jo Noon, who combined for 11 rebounds.
"The post has got to defend," Curry said. "Now that they've done it, there's no excuse not to do it."
Purdue has won 18 straight home games and avoided an 0-2 start in the Big Ten for the first time since 1985-86.
Michigan got as close as 55-42 after Sierra Hauser-Price scored a basket in transition, but Wright scored three straight baskets to push the lead to 19.
The Wolverines were a one-person team in the first half with Ingram scoring 13 of their 19 points and making five of their eight baskets.
Bies had nine points and 10 rebounds for Michigan.
Michigan coach Sue Guevara said the Wolverines, who had 23 turnovers, gave the game away.
"The team that you saw out there today was the first time I've seen that team, also," she said. "I thought we lost confidence very early. I think once we got down, it was tough to get anything going at all. Part of that was because the pressure Purdue put on.
Curry said the Boilermakers, the defending Big Ten champions, know it's too early in the season to get low after losses or overconfident with a big win.
"We've got to keep it in perspective. We've got 14 more Big Ten games," she said. "But we're not worried about tomorrow. All we can control is today and we controlled today."