The Purdue Exponent


Monday, 4/02/2001	5 day quick link 3/30 \| 3/29 \| 3/28 \| 3/27 \| 3/26

Boilers come home from Missouri two points short of win

Liz Nicol/Senior Photographer

HEARTBREAKER: Sophomore center Mary Jo Noon consoles freshman Shalicia Hurns after Purdue’s 68-66 loss to Notre Dame in the NCAA championship on Sunday in St. Louis. Hurns had 17 points and seven rebounds in the loss. For related coverage, see Pages 11-14.

By Anne McLaren
Assistant Sports Editor

ST. LOUIS — It just wasn't meant to be.

Purdue (31-7) came up two points short in its bid for a second national title falling to Notre Dame (34-2) 68-66 Sunday night in the Savvis Center in St. Louis.

"I'm incredibly proud of what this team has accomplished," said Purdue coach Kristy Curry. "We've had a lot of ups and downs and all-arounds. ... This program has been through so much adversity. That's why it hurts so bad right now, because these kids, they're incredible people."

After the game, senior All-American Katie Douglas said the fact that she had played her last collegiate game hadn't yet sunk in.

"It'll probably take me a few days," said Douglas, who was named to the All-Tournament team and broke the Purdue career mark for steals (327).

"Obviously I've learned that basketball is a small part of my life; not to put so much emphasis on it. I've been through more than this. So I'm just going to take some time and I'll be back."

Curry agreed.

"Our kids have so much faith," said Curry. "They truly believe that the greatest victory you can ever have is to believe in the Good Lord. It's just a game. The kids have a lot to be proud of. Believe me, we've been through a lot worse."

Assistant coach Kelly Curry said he couldn't vocalize what the senior class has meant to the program.

"The adversity that they've gone through and they've been able to overcome in four years and still have this success. … So many kids and teams would have quit, to have to go through what they've gone through," he said. "Every time they're up against it. Tonight was no different. They just keep fighting and they've just got heart."

The Boilers' senior class — Douglas, Camille Cooper, Candi Crawford, Shinika Parks and Mo-nique Langston finished as the winningest class in Big Ten history with 111 wins. They also won two regular season Big Ten Titles, three Big Ten Tournament titles and a national championship.

"You're always asked the question, 'who would you want to be in a foxhole with?' and those five are great examples," said Kelly. They just give you everything they have. They put this legacy on this program for sure."

Kristy said, "There's a tremendous amount of pride in this program. Those young kids are going to carry the torch. I know that they're going to carry it each and every day with them."

Freshman Erika Valek, the Boilers' starting point guard, who missed the game after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament against Texas Tech on March 24, said there are no better role models than the senior class.

"They're great persons as well as great basketball players," said Valek. "It's tough because I wish I could have done a little more to help them do what they wanted to do, which is finish their careers with a championship. We gave it all we had."

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Boilers come home from Missouri two points short of win