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Freshman contributes double-double
in win
By Kyle Charters
Senior
Writer
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Before Purdue’s game
at Ohio State on Sunday, Buckeye coach Beth Burns had to decide how
to guard Boiler center Camille Cooper. She could either guard Cooper
with one Buckeye or send others to help.
When Burns chose to double team Cooper, Purdue
freshman Shalicia Hurns responded with one of her best collegiate games.
The forward scored 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting and grabbed 14 rebounds
in the fifth-ranked Boilers’ (22-4, 12-1 Big Ten) 74-71 double
overtime victory against Ohio State (14-8, 4-8) in front of 11,467 fans
at Value City Arena.
"The biggest challenge when you choose not
to guard somebody is then keeping them off the glass — anybody,
let alone someone that’s that athletic and that talented and just
has great instincts," said Burns. "I don’t think we could
have done it any other way. Cooper by herself on the block is too much
for any of us to handle. And Hurns just went up and got it."
Hurns, who had 16 points and 10 rebounds after
halftime, made several key plays during the Boilers’ comeback victory
against the Buckeyes. A layup by Hurns started an 18-1 Purdue run that
turned a 12-point second half deficit into a five-point lead with 11:13
remaining. During the streak, Hurns had four points, two rebounds and
a couple of crucial steals.
"I thought she was very confident in her ability,"
said Purdue coach Kristy Curry. "I thought she was very pivotal
when we were down 12 and we went to the pressure. She got two or three
steals that really keyed that.
"Obviously, Hurns was very, very good today,"
said Curry. "And everyone talks about the freshman of the year
in this conference, but if you look at a kid who’s done for her
team consistently day in and day out, she has just really stepped up
in crucial situations."
One of those crucial situations came during the
last seven minutes of regulation when Hurns scored eight straight Purdue
points to help the Boilers stay even with the Buckeyes. She also hit
two free throws with 30 seconds left to tie the score at 59 and send
the game to the first overtime.
"It says a lot about her, stepping up as a
freshman and hitting free throws, getting all the boards and just coming
up with the big baskets," said Cooper.
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Boilers
beat Buckeyes
Freshman
contributes double-double in win
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ext. 251
Sports editor:
Paul Trembacki Assistant sports
editor:
Anne
McLaren
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