Purdue women look to improve record on road

By Jason Tomcsi
Sports Editor

After a loss to Iowa, the Purdue women came back home to West Lafayette with a 2-2 record in the Big Ten.

Thursday the Boilermakers leave for Bloomington to face the Indiana Hoosiers with a 4-2 record in the Big Ten and look to improve their record on the road.

Out of the three games that the Boilermakers have played on the road this Big Ten season the only win came against Northwestern in Evanston, Ill. The two losses were against Wisconsin in Madison and Iowa in Iowa City.

Purdue coach Kristy Curry said that the team needs to take it up a notch on the road.

"We need to get a win on the road, whether it is IU or who," said Curry. "We need to take it up a notch and a different level on the road."

Home Court

The Boilermakers have won two games on their home floor of Mackey arena, since the Iowa loss back on January 6.

Purdue beat Minnesota 84-61 back on January 10 and then went on to easily beat Ohio State 80-43 on Sunday.

According to Curry it is important to defend your home court.

"First and foremost you need to defend your home court in the Big Ten and we were fortunate to do that," said Curry.

Curry is happy to see her team improve in some areas but said that the team needs to bottle up those improvements and take them on the road.

Consistency

Sophomore Shereka Wright has been a constant force for the Boilermaker offense. She has scored in double figures in 15 of Purdue's 16 games.

Curry said that it is comforting for her and the rest of her staff to have a player that will constantly show up to play every night.

"It is comforting to know that we have her for the next three years and we as a staff want to continue and help her get to another level," said Curry.

Wright is talented but, according to Curry, it is the coaches' job to make sure they put Wright into a position to improve her game in some areas.

"We want to continue and work on Shereka's weaknesses," said Curry.

Erika Valek

The sophomore who had knee surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament played well against the Ohio State Buckeyes scoring 14 points.

Valek was able to play better because her knees were not hurting her as much as they have before.

"I can tell you that when she feels good she obviously is able to play better," said Curry "If I could control how she feels every day she would feel like she did on Sunday."

The Barn Burner

The Boilermakers will be playing the Hoosiers for the Barn Burner trophy this Thursday. The Barn Burner is a traveling trophy that was made to match the idea of the volleyball's Monon Spike and the football team's Old Oaken Bucket. Purdue leads the series 6-2 and has won the last three. The last time the two teams met, the Boilermakers crushed the Hoosiers 87-46.

Purdue looks to add to MSU losing streak

Purdue women look to improve record on road

Meet to provide opportunity for individual improvement

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

Sports editor: Jason Tomcsi

Assistant sports editor:
Andrew Hershberger

To send a letter to the editor, please email sports@purdueexponent.org