Nov. 10, 2002
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue began its 2002-03 women's basketball season with an 86-49 exhibition victory against the Dominican Republic National Team on Sunday in Mackey Arena. This was Purdue's 18th consecutive preseason exhibition win.
The eighth-ranked Boilermakers started strong, jumping out to an 8-0 lead. Junior forward Lindsey Hicks was the first to score, followed by senior center Mary Jo Noon. Hicks scored again to make it 6-0 before junior point guard Erika Valek, who assisted on the first three baskets, knocked down a jumper.
The Dominicans responded, closing to within four at 10-6 with just less than five minutes elapsed. A three-pointer by junior Beth Jones three seconds later bumped the Boilermaker lead back to seven.
Purdue's lead moved to 11 at the 11:21 mark behind two free throws by junior Shereka Wright, but the Boilermakers were unable to widen the margin until Jones drained another trey with 3:21 remaining. That put Purdue ahead 40-24. The Boilermakers took a 48-26 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Purdue continued to control the contest once play resumed. Though the Dominicans scored first in the second half, the Boilermakers outscored them 17 to 6 over the next eight minutes to go up by 33.
With 9:12 left, Purdue's lead was 35. Wright provided the finishing touches, hitting two free throws with 1:58 remaining to give the Boilermakers the 37-point victory.
All 12 healthy Boilermakers saw action in the opener, and all but two scored. Wright finished with a team-high 18 points, scoring 14 from the charity stripe. Valek added 16. She was 8 for 8 from the free throw line. Noon chipped in eight points.
Valek dished out eight assists and tied Noon and freshman Carol Duncan for the team lead in rebounds with six. Valek also recorded two steals in 32 minutes.
The Dominican Republic's Teresa Duran led all scorers with 23 points.
Purdue shot 44.8 percent from the floor and 83.8 percent from the free throw line. The Boilermakers made 31-of-37 freebies, while the Dominicans went 4 for 9 from the line.
Purdue outrebounded the Dominicans 40-33 and committed 12 fewer turnovers (28-16).
Purdue will conclude its exhibition season on Monday, Nov. 18, when it hosts the Ohio Girls Basketball Magazine Legends Team at 7 p.m., in Mackey Arena. Former Boilermaker Jannon Roland is slated to play for OGBM.
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