Two state teams battle for title in St. Louis

By Kyle Charters
and Anne McLaren

ST. LOUIS - Maybe the women's basketball title game should have been played at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.

Purdue and Notre Dame meet for the 2001 NCAA National Championship at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in the Savvis Center. It is the first time that two schools from the same state have met in the championship game.

"I think it’s great for the state - the first time having two teams in the final," said Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw. "I think it just speaks to how well girls’ basketball is played in the state of Indiana."

Purdue advanced to the championship game by beating No. 14 seed UC Santa Barbara 75-62, No. 6 seed Louisiana State 73-70, No. 2 seed Texas Tech 74-72, No. 4 seed Xavier 88-78 and No. 5 seed Southwest Missouri State 81-64.

Notre Dame advanced by beating No. 16 seed Alcorn State 98-49, No. 8 seed Michigan 88-54, No. 5 seed Utah 69-54, No. 3 seed Vanderbilt, 72-64 and No. 1 seed Connecticut 90-75.

"I couldn’t think of a more fitting way, honestly, to end my career, playing Purdue in the championship game," said Notre Dame senior center Ruth Riley.

Riley is just one of six former high school Indiana All-Stars that will play in the game. Purdue’s Candi Crawford, Katie Douglas, Kelly Komara, Mary Jo Noon and Shalicia Hurns also represented the state as high school seniors.

"I think it is a tremendous compliment to the state to have so many players from Indiana," said Komara, a former Indiana Miss Basketball. "It’s a wonderful thing. Indiana basketball has always had great tradition so I think it’s going to be excellent out there with all of us."

Back at Noon

Purdue sophomore Mary Jo Noon played in her first game on Friday after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in a Jan. 4 game against Iowa. The 6-foot-5 backup center, who is averaging 5.1 points per game, played for two minutes in the Boilers’ win against the Lady Bears. She had one shot attempt and one rebound.

"Just to see her come in with that smile on her face and having that confidence to come in and play was huge for us," said Douglas.

Noon said she felt good for the limited action she got.

"I think the major thing is just getting over my fear of getting back out there," Noon said after the game. "That’s the first step for everything. I think this is just going to give me great motivation to get back out there (again)."

Noon, who missed all of Purdue’s championship season in 1999 because of a broken foot, should be available again for Sunday’s game. In limited minutes she might be able to provide some size to help the Boilers guard Riley.

"It’s going to be totally up to the coaches and to Mary Jo," said Douglas. "If she feels that she can come in and be a spark for us, we’d love to have her out there for us."

The Program

The Boilers think they can solidify their program as one of the best in the nation if they beat the Irish on Sunday. A win would give Purdue its second national championship in three years.

"We don’t have that second national championship yet, but I think it would leave a mark on our program and maybe establish us somewhat even more so because I think in the ‘99 year, even though we were the No. 1 seed, we were still the underdog," said Douglas.

"So obviously you have to look at Purdue as putting itself in one of those powerhouse programs as a Connecticut or a Tennessee. Definitely we think we deserve respect, but we’re not unhappy."

Last time out

Win or lose on Sunday, it will be the last collegiate game for Purdue’s five seniors - Cooper, Crawford, Douglas, Mo-nique Langston and Shinika Parks.

"We definitely have a sense of urgency," said Cooper. "I haven’t really thought about it being our last game. Such a big game and a way to end your career, just having an opportunity to play in the national championship. I think we’ll go out and hopefully play a lot harder for each other because it is our last opportunity together."

Douglas and Cooper have played in 134 games together.

"We’re going to do whatever it takes in our to put our team in a position to win," said Douglas. "I know if there is a loose ball, I’m going to go after it with everything I’ve got, because you can’t hold everything back, because this is your last 40 minutes.

"But at the same time, I’m probably going to be more relaxed, because the first time we got her, I was very nervous. And this time, it’s my last game, and I want to go out and enjoy it."