Dec 6, 2001
By DAN GELSTON
Associated Press Writer
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) – Purdue coach Krisy Curry has spent the offseason wondering how the Boilermakers could have scored three more points against Notre Dame last April to win the national championship.
She found the answer in the paint.
Mary Jo Noon scored a career-high 21 points and had 13 rebounds, Shereka Wright scored 17 and Kelly Komara added 15 as the No. 7 Boilermakers beat Notre Dame 70-57 Thursday night in a rematch of last year’s title game.
Both teams struggled from the floor, with the Irish shooting 43 percent and the Boilermakers at 39.
Purdue won (6-1) thanks to an edge from the free throw line, making 19 of 29 attempts while the Irish were just 7-for-10. Notre Dame also committed 21 turnovers to Purdue’s 10.
The Boilermakers weren’t able to put the Irish away until the final three minutes.
Jeneka Joyce made a 3-pointer midway through the second half and the Irish (2-4) pulled within eight. The Boilermakers led 50-40, then went on an 18-8 run to lead by 20.
When Noon went to the bench, the Boilermakers inserted Emily Heikes who scored 10 points and had six rebounds to help them to a 43-34 edge on the boards.
Alicia Ratay led Notre Dame with 12 points and Jacqueline Batteast added 10. Ratay scored her 1,000th career point.
Purdue led 21-13 in the first half, but a basket by Le’Tania Severe and a 3 by Joyce cut the gap to three. The Boilermakers extended the lead to 31-24 at the half.
Notre Dame trailed by as few as five points early in the second half but couldn’t get closer.
Many of the players who appeared in the title game are no longer with their teams. Graduation cost the Irish All-American center Ruth Riley’ forward Kelley Siemon and point guard Niele Ivey. The Boilermakers lost All-American Katie Douglas and center Camille Cooper to graduation and Shalicia Hurns transferred.
The Irish won the national title when Riley made two free throws with 5.8 seconds remaining to give them a 68-66 win. Douglas missed an 18-footer at the buzzer for Purdue.
The Boilermakers are 6-0 against the Irish at Mackey Arena.