High school junior commits to Purdue

By Anne McLaren
Assistant Sports Editor

The women’s basketball team has received a verbal commitment from Ashley Mays, a junior from Indianapolis.

Mays, a 5-foot-7 shooting guard, played this season for Warren Central where she averaged 21.9 points, nine rebounds and three assists per game. Warren Central lost to Lawrence North 76-56 on Feb. 13 in the first round of sectional play. Mays scored 30 points in the loss.

Because she is a junior, Mays will not be eligible to play for the Boilers until the 2002-2003 season.

Coaches are prohibited from making comments on potential recruits.

All-America Honors

Senior guard/forward Katie Douglas, last season’s Big Ten player of the year, has received first team All-America honors from Sports Illustrated for Women.

Douglas was joined on the first team by senior guard/forward Svetlana Abrosimova of Connecticut, senior forward Tamika Catchings of Tennessee, senior center Ruth Riley of Notre Dame and senior guard Jackie Stiles of Southwest Missouri State.

The second team consists of senior guard Kelly Miller of Georgia, senior forward Shea Ralph of Connecticut, senior guard Georgia Schweitzer of Duke, junior center Michelle Snow of Tennessee and sophomore center LaToya Thomas of Mississippi State.

Tournament News

After the contest at 7 tonight at No. 19 Penn State (18-7, 10-4 Big Ten), Purdue (24-4, 14-1) has a week off before the Big Ten Tournament. The conference tournament is being played in Grand Rapids, Mich., from March 1 to 4. With the Big Ten regular season title, the Boilers have secured the No. 1 seed for the tournament and a bye for the first round.

Purdue will face the winner of today’s game between the No. 8 seed and the No. 9 seed. Even with two games remaining in conference action, Ohio State (15-9, 5-9) and Michigan State (9-16, 3-11) are locked for the eighth and ninth seeds, respectively.

The Boilers are expected to be among the top 16 teams to host the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament. If that is the case, the Boilers will play in Mackey Arena on March 16 and 18 or on March 17 and 19. The official pairings will be announced on Selection Sunday, March 11.

Lone one out

When Purdue went to its five senior rotation, junior Kelly Komara sat on the bench. When the Boilers’ five freshmen replaced the five seniors, Komara sat on the bench.

"I guess I didn’t realize I was the only one that actually plays who isn’t a freshman or a senior," she said. "But it was kind of a wake-up call or whatnot."

With redshirt sophomore Mary Jo Noon out with an anterior cruciate ligament tear and senior Laura Meadows sitting out this season after transferring from Kentucky last season, Komara was the only one left on the bench.

"But it was real interesting to see five freshmen go in for five seniors," she said. "Next year they’ll be looking for a leader and Laura Meadows and I will be the two seniors so I just hope I can provide as good leadership as Katie and Camille (Cooper) have."

Boilers fall in overtime

High school junior commits to Purdue

Light prepares for, anticipates NFL draft

Boilers hope to continue success

Purdue looks forward to swim championship

SPORTS DESK PHONE:
(765) 743-1111 ext. 251

Sports editor:
Paul Trembacki

Assistant sports editor:
Anne McLaren

To send a letter to the editor, please email opinions@purdueexponent.org