ND-Purdue matchup offers team balance

By Anne McLaren
Assistant Sports Editor

ST. LOUIS — When Purdue and Notre Dame face off in the national championship game Sunday night, it will be a battle of two of the most balanced teams in the country.

The third-seeded Boilers (31-6) and the top-seeded Irish (33-2) tip off at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in the Savvis Center for the 2001 NCAA Women's National Basketball Championship. It will be Notre Dame's first championship game and the Boilers' second. Purdue won the title two years ago.

"It means a lot playing for the national championship, especially with all of our coaching changes," said Purdue All-American Katie Douglas. "Notre Dame is a great team with a great tradition. We are the underdogs, but we've been taught to expect it."

All five of Notre Dame's starters average in double figures. All five of Purdue's starters average more than nine points a game.

"Both teams have inside-outside powers," said Notre Dame guard Niele Ivey.

Notre Dame is led in scoring by center Ruth Riley, the Associated Press Player of the Year.

"Ruth is a very talented center," said Purdue center Camille Cooper. "She is heralded as best in the nation so that is definitely a challenge to me. I have to go out there and defend her and try to play well against her."

Cooper is second on Purdue's team in scoring at 14.5 points per game and first in blocks and shooting percentage.

"Every time we've faced Purdue, it's been a great matchup between Camille and I," said Riley. "She's a great post player and you have to step your game up when you play against a player like that. She's tall and strong. I think we are kind of identical in the way that we play our game, kind of old-school post."

At the forward positions, Notre Dame has Ericka Haney and Kelly Siemon, while Purdue starts a pair of freshmen, Shalicia Hurns and Shereka Wright.

At the point guard position, Notre Dame starts fifth-year senior Ivey, a native of St. Louis. Ivey sprained her ankle against Connecticut and is expected to be at less than 100 percent against the Boilers.

"I think that we need to have her on the floor," said Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw. "I'm not sure what level she's going to be at, but I think with all the adrenaline flowing and playing here at home, she's going to be going full speed ahead."

After Purdue's point guard, Erika Valek, tore her anterior cruciate ligament against Texas Tech in the Sweet 16, the Boilers have rotated players at point guard. Junior Kelly Komara will start at the position, but the 6-foot-1 Douglas, Purdue's leading scorer at 15.4 points per game, will also see minutes.

"I don't know how you control Katie Douglas," said McGraw. "She's a great player. I don't know that you can stop her. She's going to hurt you on the inside-outside. She can do so many things. She's a very tough matchup for us."

Notre Dame will counter with sharpshooter Alicia Ratay, the NCAA leader in 3-point percentage at .556.

"They are tremendous shooters and I think we just have to go ot there and really put a hand in their face and really contest them," said Komara.

While defending Riley is a priority, Curry wants to make sure that her team doesn't forget about Ratay.

"I think our kids understand and repect and know those kids' tendencies so well, that we know we don't need to leave," said Curry. "So if we leave them, don't think I told them to leave them."