The Purdue Exponent


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Boilermakers rally to defeat Illini

Guard's second-half improvements lead to Purdue victory

Liz Nicol/Senior Photographer

SECOND HALF SURGE: Purdue guard Kelly Komara drives to the basket against Illinois guard Allison Curtin on Sunday. Komara scored 15 of her team-high 17 points in the second half to lead the Boilers' to a 72-64 win.

By Kyle Charters
Senior Writer

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — In the first half of Purdue's game vs. Illinois on Sunday, guard Kelly Komara could barely hit a shot. In the second half, though, she could barely miss.

That improvement helped the sixth-ranked Boilers (17-3, 7-0 Big Ten) sustain several second-half Illini rallies to beat Illinois (9-9, 4-2) 72-64 in front a crowd of 6,606 in Assembly Hall.

"I knew in the first half my touch was not there at all," said Komara, who hit just 1 of 7 field goals before intermission. "I just went into halftime and talked about it a little bit — just saying 'go out there and play, have fun, do what you do best.' And I think I went out there with a lot more confidence in the second half and wanted to put them away."

Komara, who took several extra warm-up shots before the start of the second half, hit 5 of 7 shots after the break and finished with a team-high 17 points.

"I just really wanted to win tonight," said Komara, who helped turn a five-point (32-27) halftime lead into as many as 11 points in the second half. "I wanted to do anything I possibly could to help this team win."

Purdue coach Kristy Curry said she just kept telling Komara to keep shooting, no matter how many the junior had previously missed.

"I knew sooner or later she was going to hit a shot," said Curry, "and she sure did. The second half was huge for us and that's why she's on the floor."

Komara's most significant adjustment came from behind the 3-point line. After missing on all four of her attempts from beyond the arc in the first half, Komara was perfect on her four tries in the second. She hit her first 3-pointer on the first shot of the second half. Her other three 3-pointers came after Illinois made runs to cut into the Purdue lead.

"I think they were all pretty important in that point of time in the game," said Komara.

Komara credited senior Katie Douglas for getting the ball to her on the perimeter. Douglas, who played point guard for most of the second half, had seven assists to go with her 15 points and six rebounds.

"If Katie drives, you just spot up outside," said Komara. "And Katie's a smart enough player to kick it out if there are two people on her. So as a perimeter player and a 3-point shooter, you love to have Katie Douglas on your team.

"They just kept collapsing on Katie which is perfect for someone like me — a spot-up shooter."

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