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GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Purdue (0-0) at Maine (0-0)
Friday, Nov. 11, 2016 / 5 p.m. ET / ESPN3
Cross Insurance Center (5,800) / Bangor, Maine
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue's Sharon Versyp will experience a homecoming of sorts this weekend, returning to the first NCAA institution to name her its head coach. The 11th-year Boilermaker head coach was hired by the University of Maine in 2000, and went on to lead the Black Bears to three America East titles and a 2004 NCAA Tournament bid.
"Maine has always been, and will always be dear to my heart. It was my first head coaching opportunity and they are such great people," said Versyp. "They love women's basketball there, and to have that level of support and the atmosphere they create is fantastic."
Versyp wasted no time in taking the Maine program to new levels, winning 12 games her first year, 16 her second and 25 in her third, including a 16-0 America East Conference mark. The Black Bears posted another 25-win season in 2004, winning the conference and conference tournament titles and the first back-to-back 25 win seasons in program history. In five seasons she totaled 98 wins, including 67 in conference play, was named the America East Coach of the Year twice (2003, 2005), coached 15 all-conference players and the 2003 and 2004 America East Player of the Year.
"I had some amazing recruiting classes at Maine and they were an amazing group of young women," said Versyp. "Several of them are coming back to visit this weekend, and to think about all we achieved together and playing in the ice hockey rink, just brings a smile to my face."
It's been 11 seasons since Versyp walked the Maine sidelines, and this week she'll take her alma mater back east to face the Black Bears on their home floor as they host the Boilermakers, No. 10 Mississippi State and Villanova for a four-team tip-off tournament. Purdue hosted Maine last season, earning a 56-33 victory in Mackey Arena on Dec. 21, and was met with a warm greeting from the Black Bear media and fans. They're hoping for more of the same this weekend.
"There's no doubt about it," said associate head coach Nadine Morgan. "I'm sure the Maine fans will be cheering against us Friday, but we'll have a home crowd Saturday. She'll be really well received and I think that's awesome."
The Boilermakers see this weekend with multiple opportunities in play as they start the 2016-17 campaign. The two games are not only a chance to get their season off to a great start, but also to honor their coach in the place that she started her head coaching career.
"It's a big deal for Coach, and we're excited about that," said junior captain Andreona Keys. "We want to make sure we bring our `A' game, to show people how far she's come and how great a job she's done at Purdue. We're always playing for her, but this weekend is even more special."
The Boilermakers open the season against Maine at 5 p.m. ET at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine, and will play either Mississippi State or Villanova on Saturday at 5 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
- Boilermakers won their 38th straight exhibition game, topping visiting Ursuline College, 86-58
- Committed just eight turnovers, marking the fewest in an exhibition game under Versyp, and would-be tie for 13th-lowest single-game total in program history
- Outscored the Arrows 56-8 in the paint and 23-0 on second-chance points
- Outrebounded Ursuline 46-25, including 19 offensive boards
- Andreona Keys, Dominique McBryde and Ae'Rianna Harris tied for top-scoring spot with 16 points apiece
- Bridget Perry had a game-high 10 rebounds, five assists and three blocks
- McBryde, Harris and Ashley Morrissette had three steals apiece
HEAD COACH Sharon Versyp
- Versyp received her first head coaching opportunity at the University of Maine, hired by Sue Tyler in 2000
- Coached the Black Bears for five seasons, posting a 98-51 record, including a 67-19 mark in the America East Conference
- Won three straight regular season America East titles from 2003-05, earning an NCAA Tournament bid in 2004
- Named the America East Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2005
#BOILERNOTES
- Entering 42nd season of competition, entering the year with exactly 800 wins in program history
- Return five of the team's top-six scorers and 69.1 percent of its total scoring from 2015-16
- Return three starters with a combined 92 starts from last season; in years that Versyp returns at least three starters and over 60 starts, Purdue has averaged 24.1 wins per year and has made the NCAA Tournament every time
- Purdue director of operations Terry Kix was the head field hockey coach at Maine for 13 seasons, and also served as the Black Bears' senior woman administrator
- This week's trip to Maine will be the first for the entire Boilermaker roster and all but four of the total travel party