Jan 6, 2002
Video Courtesy of ESPN
Kelly Komara drives the lane and gets the tough shot for the Boilermakers.
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By CHUCK SCHOFFNER
AP Sports Writer
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) - Lindsey Meder scored 19 points and Iowa held off a late charge by No. 10 Purdue to beat the Boilermakers 90-75 Sunday.
Beatrice Bullock added a career-high 16 points for Iowa (9-5, 2-2 Big Ten), which got a big lift off the bench from Jerica Watson in beating Purdue (11-3, 2-2) for the third straight time. Purdue's other losses this season had been to No. 3 Oklahoma and No. 12 Wisconsin.
Watson had missed Iowa's previous game, an 82-63 loss at Ohio State, because of what coach Lisa Bluder said were "personal health problems." She played 19 minutes Sunday and finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, five blocks and four steals.
Iowa never trailed after Watson scored seven straight points to erase a 23-21 deficit. The Hawkeyes eventually stretched the lead to 64-49 before Purdue went on a 14-2 run to draw to 66-63 on Kelly Komara's two free throws with 6:57 left.
Komara's 3-pointer left Purdue trailing 72-68 with 3:46 to play, but the Boilermakers did not make another field goal until just 36 seconds remained.
Jennie Lillis converted a three-point play off a strong move to the basket for a 74-68 lead, and Iowa made 14 free throws in the last three minutes to finish it off.
Shereka Wright led Purdue with 26 points, matching her career-high. Mary Jo Noon scored 18 points and Komara had 14.
Leah Magner added 12 points for Iowa, while Lillis and Kristi Faulkner each scored 11.
Watson entered the game late in the first half and quickly energized her team, scoring seven straight points, making a steal and blocking two shots to carry Iowa into a 28-23 lead.
Iowa led 44-38 at halftime, and a 16-6 run that included eight points by Magner stretched the lead to 15.