Fans celebrate women’s basketball team

By Anne McLaren
Assistant Sports Editor

Senior center Camille Cooper told fans to cross their arms over their shoulders and give themselves hugs as a symbol of her thanks.

Fans from the Greater Lafayette community held signs that read "You’re No. 1 in our minds" and welcomed the Purdue women’s basketball team back to Mackey Arena Tuesday night.

The Boilers (31-7) concluded the season as NCAA runners-up after falling to Notre Dame (34-2) 68-66 in the championship game Sunday night in the Savvis Center in St. Louis.

"They came within seconds of being No. 1 in the country, but this team will always be No. 1 in the hearts of Boilermakers," said Purdue president Martin Jischke.

Purdue quarterback Drew Brees spoke on behalf of Purdue’s student athletes from the other 17 varsity sports. Student-athletes from the other sports formed a walkway across the court of Mackey Arena for the team to walk through.

"I can identify, just as well as the other members of the football team can, with what the women have done this year as far as having a goal in mind, striving for it and achieving that goal and making it to the big dance," said Brees. "To be able to do that not once but twice is a huge achievement.

"Something that most people don’t realize is what the senior class means to a team. … This year, a huge part of our success was a great senior class and great leadership. I know that was definitely present on the women’s team this year, as it has been in years past, but especially this year."

The senior class recorded a four-year record of 111-26, the winningest class in Big Ten history. Athletic director Morgan Burke remembered the class of Camille Cooper, Candi Crawford, Katie Douglas and Mo-nique Langston when they entered as freshmen almost four years ago.

"They were young, thick-skinned and ready to take on any and all challenges," said Burke. "They wanted to compete and succeed at the very highest level. And that is … what they have accomplished."

Douglas wasn’t able to attend the memorial because she was attending the funeral of a family friend. But Douglas taped a message, which was played before the crowd of approximately 2,500 fans.

"It’s definitely an experience I’ll never forget," said Douglas. "Just playing here at Purdue is so special and something I wouldn’t trade anything in the world for."

Douglas, along with the rest of the Boilers, has overcome adversity in the death of teammate Tiffany Young and in the changes between coaches.

"They played within themselves and they did what they had to do to win basketball games," said associate athletic director Roger Blalock. "That is a sure sign of maturity."

Purdue finished at No. 2 in the final ESPN/USA Today coaches poll. Other than the national championship finish in 1999, this is the highest the Boilers have ever finished in a postseason poll. Notre Dame was first while Connecticut, which fell to the Irish in one semifinal, was third and Southwest Missouri State, which fell to the Boilers in the other semifinal, was fourth.

Despite the graduation of the five seniors, junior Kelly Komara had one guarantee for next season.

"I will see you all in San Antonio," Komara said, referring to the site of next season’s Final Four.

Coach Kristy Curry echoed that sentiment.

"That’s our goal, that’s our hope and that’s our dream," Curry said.

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SPORTS DESK PHONE:
(765) 743-1111 ext. 251

Sports editor:
Paul Trembacki

Assistant sports editor:
Anne McLaren

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