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CANCUN CHALLENGE SCHEDULE
Purdue (1-3) vs. Wichita State (1-2)
Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016 / 1:30 p.m. ET / YouTube
Purdue (1-3) vs. Northeastern
Friday, Nov. 25, 2016 / 1:30 p.m. ET / YouTube
Purdue (1-3) vs. No. 11/10 Stanford (3-1)
Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016 / 1:30 p.m. ET / YouTube
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue women's basketball team heads south of the border this week, set for a three-game stretch at the 2016 Cancun Challenge, hosted at the Hard Rock Riviera Maya on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The Boilermakers head into the week at 1-3 on the young season, but have an outstanding tradition of success on the Yucatán Peninsula.
This week is the Boilermakers' third-ever appearance in Cancun, making previous trips in 2000 and 2011. The first trip was a success, topping the Torneo Cancun de Básquetbol with wins over Montana State and South Carolina, as was the 2011 showing at the fourth-annual Cancun Challenge, where the Boilermakers downed Tulane and Kansas State.
The Boilermakers are 5-1 all-time in Mexico, and look to build on that this week, facing Wichita State, Northeastern and No. 11 Stanford. Games are set for 1:30 p.m. ET each day, and will air live on YouTube and the Purdue Radio Network.
LAST TIME OUT
- Boilermakers fell to Southern Illinois, 64-61, at Mackey Arena, falling to 1-3 on the season
- The Boilermakers committed just nine turnovers, outscoring the Salukis off turnovers, 24-5
- Purdue had just 11 second-chance points, despite 16 offensive rebounds
- Ashley Morrissette tied a career-high with 28 points, hitting 10-of-19 from the floor and 7-of-8 at the free throw line
- Morrissette added seven rebounds, four assists and tied a career-high with four steals
- Senior classmate Bridget Perry scored in double-figures for the first time this season, posting 10 points, six rebounds, three blocks and two steals
HEAD COACH Sharon Versyp
- In her 11th year as the Boilermakers' head coach, giving her the longest tenure of any coach in program history
- Winningest Purdue women's basketball head coach, earning 215 to date and 332 for her career, and second in program history in Big Ten Conference wins with 101
- Purdue's eight NCAA Tournament appearances under Versyp are the most under any head coach in program history
- Starred for the Boilermakers from 1985-88, scoring the 13th-most points in program history and was the fourth-fastest player at Purdue to reach 1,000-career points (77 games)
- One-of-2 Big Ten head coaches to lead her alma mater (Amy Williams, Nebraska)
- One-of-2 former Boilermakers to serve as a head coach for a Big Ten team (Teri Moren, Indiana)
#BOILERNOTES
- The Boilermakers are 85-40 all-time in regular season tournaments, including a 24-10 mark under head coach Sharon Versyp
- Purdue last played in the Cancun Challenge in 2011, winning the tournament with victories over Tulane and Kansas State, and also won the event in 2000 with wins over Montana State and South Carolina
- The Boilermakers are 5-1 all-time in Mexico, including a 4-0 mark in Cancun
- Purdue is 10-8 all-time outside the United States
- All three opposing coaches in Cancun have Big Ten Conference roots: VanDerVeer was the head coach at Ohio State from 1980 to 1985, Adams-Birch coached for three seasons at Minnesota, and Cole coached and played collegiately at Northwestern
- This is the first meeting between Purdue and the Shockers since Dec. 10, 1992, when the 11th-ranked Boilermakers earned an 83-75 win over visiting Wichita State in Mackey Arena
- Northeastern is the 191st opponent in Purdue women's basketball history, the Boilermakers are 137-53 in inaugural meetings
- Saturday's matchup with the Cardinal marks the third time in the last four seasons Purdue has faced Stanford over the Thanksgiving holiday (2013 - Hardwood Tournament of Hope, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, 2015 - Gulf Coast Showcase, Estero, Florida)
- Also will be the fourth time during Versyp's tenure the two teams have met at the holiday, adding a 2008 contest at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Classic in Hawai'i
- Two of the last three meetings between Purdue and Stanford have gone to overtime, including last year's 71-65 Cardinal win in Florida
- Stanford will be Purdue's first ranked opponent of the season, owning a 105-157 all-time record against ranked foes