The Purdue Exponent


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

Freshmen show maturity in loss

Liz Nicol/Senior Photographer

MINE: Freshman forward Shereka Wright fights for the ball with Notre Dame’s Niele Ivey as Purdue’s Katie Douglas and Candi Crawford look on. Wright finished with 17 points and four rebounds during the Irish’s 68-66 win over the Boilers in the NCAA title game.

By Anne McLaren
Assistant Sports Editor

ST. LOUIS — Although Purdue's freshmen failed to capture a national title Sunday night, they got valuable experience for the future.

Starting forwards Shalicia Hurns and Shereka Wright each scored 17 points and combined to pull down 11 rebounds for Purdue in its 68-66 loss to Notre Dame in the NCAA National Championship game.

"Shalicia Hurns and Shereka, especially tonight, were as big as anyone," said Purdue assistant coach Kelly Curry. "They stepped up in the most important game that anyone will ever play in. That was big time.

"The future's going to be bright. Erika (Valek) was playing great when she got hurt. Lindsey (Hicks) and Beth (Jones) are only going to continue to improve. The experience of being with that senior group and being in this run for the national championship, it's going to be invaluable for them."

Hurns said the five freshmen will grow from the loss.

"I'm disappointed in the loss but this was a great game and a great experience," she said. "This was a great season for us because a lot of people didn't expect us to get to the Final Four. These are big building blocks."

The play of Wright and Hurns, who were named to the Final Four All-tournament team, impressed the rest of the Purdue team.

"They didn't play like freshmen tonight and they didn't play like freshman the whole year for us," said senior All-American Katie Douglas, who was also named to the tournament team and led Purdue with 18 points, seven rebounds, five assists and five steals. "The future of this program looks bright. I know that they'll carry on this tradition.

"We're going to pass our torch to them. They'll be back. I know the feeling that they have in the locker room will make them work that much harder."

One freshman who wants to work hard is Valek, who missed the final three games of the season after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament against Texas Tech on March 24.

"We learn from it for next year — you've experienced all you need to experience," said Valek. "This is the biggest game and I feel like as freshmen they were able to step up there and do such an awesome job for this team. I know next year when we're out there having tight games, we'll take this experience and it'll just help us get through it."

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