Feb. 19, 2006
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - Cyndi Valentin hit a tying 3-pointer with 5 seconds left in regulation and a pair of free throws with 3 seconds to go in overtime, giving Indiana a 63-61 upset of No. 10 Purdue on Sunday and knocking the Boilermakers out of first place in the Big Ten.
Valentin led the Hoosiers with 25 points and overshadowed the career-high 32 by Purdue's Katie Gearlds.
It was the third straight overtime game between the two in-state rivals and snapped Purdue's six-game winning streak over the Hoosiers (15-10, 9-5 Big Ten).
A 3-pointer by Valentin gave Indiana a 50-47 lead late in regulation, but Gearlds brought the Boilermakers (21-4, 12-2) within one with a pair of free throws. Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton followed with two baskets for a 53-50 lead.
Purdue still led 55-52 after two free throws by Gearlds, but Valentin hit another 3-pointer on the run to send the game into overtime.
There were three more ties in the extra period, the last on a layup by Gearlds with 4 seconds left. But Valentin was fouled on the inbounds play and sank the winning free throws.
Nikki Smith added 12 points for Indiana, all on 3-pointers.
Wisdom-Hylton scored 14 for Purdue.
The game marked a homecoming for first-year Indiana coach Sharon Versyp, who left Purdue in 1988 second in career points and assists. Versyp returned to Mackey Arena for the first time as an opposing coach, and her Hoosiers used a 15-4 run to take a five-point lead midway through the opening period.
Indiana widened its lead to 28-21 six minutes later, but it didn't last long.
The first of four 3-pointers by Gearlds started a 13-0 streak for the Boilermakers spanning halftime.
A steal by Gearlds and fast-break layup and a free throw by Aya Traore brought Purdue within one point with 2 minutes left in the first half. Gearlds' second 3-pointer a half-minute later put the Boilermakers back into the lead, and after an Indiana turnover, Wisdom-Hylton scored for a 32-28 lead at the break.
The loss dropped Purdue a half-game behind No. 6 Ohio State in the conference race. The Buckeyes and Boilermakers will play in Columbus on Thursday.