Boilermakers face Xavier for chance at Final Four

By Anne McLaren
Assistant Sports Editor

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Tonight's Elite Eight matchup is the first meeting between Purdue and Xavier, but some of the players are familiar with each other.

No. 3 seed Purdue (29-6) and No. 4 seed Xavier (31-2) meet at 8 tonight in Birmingham-Jefferson Arena for the opportunity to advance to the Final Four. The Boilers advanced by beating the Lady Raiders 74-72 on Saturday while the Musketeers advanced by defeating the top-seeded Tennessee, 80-65, in the other semifinal.

Sophomore guard Amy Waugh of Xavier played on the same high school team, Fort Wayne Homestead, as Purdue senior forward Candi Crawford.

"Honestly, when she went away to school and I went away two years later, I never thought that we'd be facing each other in the Elite Eight of the tournament," said Waugh.

Waugh said the two talked for about 15 minutes during the teams' banquet on Friday night.

"We're friends off the court, but once we get on the court, it's all business as usual," she said.

Waugh also played against Purdue guard Kelly Komara in AAU games while both were in high school.

"She's a typical Xavier player in the sense that she plays 100 percent every play," said Komara. "The way to play somebody like that is to match their energy and enthusiasm."

Waugh is recovering from an Achilles' tendon injury that sidelined her for most of the season. As a freshman, Waugh was the Atlantic-10 Rookie of the Year after averaging 10.8 points and 5.8 assists while shooting 49.7 percent from the field and 47.2 percent from 3-point range. This season, in 13 games after recovering from the injury, she has averaged 7.2 points and 3.9 assists per game.

"I'm feeling as comfortable as I was at the end of last year," said Waugh. "It took me awhile to get back to this form, but I'm feeling good right now."

Waugh is a microcosm of the Musketeers, who thrive upon their role as underdogs. Purdue coach Kristy Curry likes to consider the Boilers as underdogs too, though.

"We're just going to sit back, roll up our sleeves and be a little blue collar about things," said Curry. "I think that's what's gotten Purdue and Xavier to this point in time in the season."

Although Xavier is in its first Elite Eight, the Musketeers enter the game on a 21-game winning streak and are no stranger to big games.

"I remember a couple of years ago when they took Connecticut down to the wire," said Purdue All-American Katie Douglas. "I'm sure they're very excited about being in this position. They've got a great team. They don't want this to be their last game."

Xavier has four seniors in its starting lineup. Purdue is similar in the sense that it has five seniors, although it starts just two — Douglas and Camille Cooper.

"We've won a lot of games together," said Douglas. "We know what it takes to get to the next level, to the Final Four, and also to win the national championship."

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Sports editor:
Paul Trembacki

Assistant sports editor:
Anne McLaren

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