Purdue has the Wright stuff in win over Valparaiso

By Paul Trembacki
Sports Editor
Shereka Wright had a slight cold Tuesday night.

However, the sophomore forward for the Purdue women's basketball team did not let it affect her play.

Wright had 19 points, six rebounds and four steals to lead the 11th-ranked Boilers to a 76-58 win over the Crusaders Tuesday night in Mackey Arena.

Despite her illness, which was evident in her raspy post-game interview, Wright found the energy to continually bang inside for tough rebounds and baskets and dive on the floor to keep the ball in bounds.

"I love my team and I'll do anything for them; I do whatever I have to," said Wright, who played 35 minutes and hit 9 of 17 field goals.

Wright, whose early layup put Purdue up for good, 12-10, had to do more than she had anticipated because Purdue's starting guard tandem had 12 turnovers.

Senior Kelly Komara, who renewed a longstanding rivalry with Valparaiso senior Jeanette Gray, had 11 points in 31 minutes, but she turned the ball over five times. Fellow guard Erika Valek, who also played 31 minutes, had seven turnovers and seven points for the Boilers (2-1).

The turnovers kept Purdue from increasing its lead to more than 23, and Valparaiso's 3-point shooting and offensive rebounding kept the Crusaders (0-2) from being blown out.

Valparaiso sophomore Suzie Hammel, a Lafayette native who played at Lebanon (Ind.) High School, had 17 points — all in the second half — to lead the Crusaders. She hit five of Valparaiso's seven 3-pointers, but the Crusaders, denied an inside presence, attempted 21 shots from beyond the arc.

Hammel's fifth 3-pointer capped a 14-4 run that cut Purdue's lead to 12 with 8:37 to play, but Boiler sophomore Lindsey Hicks answered with a basket and a free throw to keep the home team in control.

Senior Laura Meadows, who led Purdue with 11 rebounds and had 11 points, said she'd rather not see anyone play like Hammel did in the second half.

"I think we need to play sound defense on everybody and continue working on help side defense and try not to let anyone beat us," Meadows said.

Valparaiso had played solid defense in its opener, a 42-35 loss at No. 15 Notre Dame Sunday.

"(Purdue) got to run everything they wanted to; with Notre Dame, we utilized their offense against them," Hammel said. "(Purdue's) offense is Wright and their players getting penetration and Komara and Valek getting open 3's from their penetration, and we didn't stop that."

Purdue coach Kristy Curry said she respects every team and fears none, regardless of who has played who. She thinks Tuesday night's game was a good experience for the team.

"We saw some good, some bad, some ugly, and, you know, we're going to have our nights, but I think this team responded and found a way to win," Curry said. "I'll take an 18-point win over a pretty good little Valpo team who had everybody returning."

* The Purdue women will play next at 2 p.m. Sunday in Mackey Arena against Southern Mississippi.

No. 11 PURDUE 76, VALPARAISO 58

VALPARAISO (0-2)
Schober 2-6 1-2 5, Nieuwveen 6-12 1-3 13, Knoester 0-4 0-0 0, Hammel 6-12 0-0 17, Gray 5-8 0-2 10, Boone 1-6 0-0 2, McIntosh 1-1 0-0 2, Stangler 2-7 0-0 5, Springer 1-1 0-0 3, Baugher 0-0 1-2 1, Frede 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 24-59 3-9 58.

PURDUE (2-1)
Meadows 5-12 1-2 11, Wright 9-17 0-2 19, Noon 5-9 4-4 14, Komara 3-6 4-5 11, Valek 2-6 2-3 7, Hicks 2-5 3-3 7, Davis 1-1 0-0 2, Jones 0-2 0-0 0, Heikes 1-2 3-4 5. Totals 28-60 17-23 76.

Halftime—Purdue 36, Valparaiso 20. 3-Point goals—Valparaiso 7-21 (Hammel 5-9, Springer 1-1, Stangler 1-3, Gray 0-1, Knoester 0-3, Boone 0-4), Purdue 3-11 (Komara 1-2, Wright 1-3, Valek 1-3, Meadows 0-1, Jones 0-2). Fouled out—Schober, Stangler. Rebounds—Valparaiso 29 (Stangler 7), Purdue 40 (Meadows 11). Assists—Valparaiso 15 (Boone 5), Purdue 13 (Valek 5). Total fouls—Valparaiso 18, Purdue 12. A—7,225.

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Sports editor:
Paul Trembacki

Assistant sports editor:
Doug Healey

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