Jan 12, 2003
By DAN GELSTON
Associated Press Writer
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Lindsey Hicks' slump nearly forced her out of Purdue's starting lineup. Coach Kristy Curry's decision to stick with her proved to be the right one.
Hicks broke out of a scoring slump with 16 points and Shereka Wright had 15 as No. 7 Purdue beat Michigan 69-52 Sunday.
The Boilermakers (13-2, 2-1 Big Ten) raised their 2002 Big Ten championship banner before the game and played like a team capable of winning a third straight conference title.
Hicks was a big reason why. Curry threatened lineup changes after a sluggish start and Hicks was an easy candidate. She was only 3-for-23 from the floor for 10 points in her last three games.
Hicks, though, made her first shot from the high post, which she said gave her a needed confidence boost against the Wolverines (9-5, 0-3).
"The one thing I've never had to think about was my shot," said Hicks, who was 6-for-11 from the floor. "It was always my defense or something else. I just had to keep coming back."
Hicks, a junior who finally cracked the starting rotation this season, said she was more concerned with improving and not her place in the lineup.
"It's always a question, but I couldn't worry about that," she said.
Hicks helped the Boilermakers, who fell behind early in their first two conference games, avoid another slow start.
In a loss to Michigan State, the Boilermakers twice trailed by nine points in the first half and against Wisconsin they trailed 12-0 before rallying.
Not against the Wolverines.
"As a staff, we tried to do a better job of getting fired up and having them understand the urgency of the situation," Curry said.
Her methods worked.
They dominated the Wolverines from the outset and never trailed. Michigan was sloppy early - either dropping passes or watching them fly out of bounds - which led to 12 first-half turnovers.
Purdue had six steals in the first half - two each by Beth Jones and Erika Valek - and scored 16 points off turnovers.
Michigan center Jennifer Smith couldn't hold onto the ball on consecutive possessions and Purdue converted those turnovers into five points. The Boilermakers led 28-11 and took a 36-24 halftime lead.
Curry said watching Hicks make five of her first seven shots justified the decision to keep Hicks in the starting lineup.
"She needed to continue to be aggressive and stick with her shot," Curry said. "We're going to stick with her. We're hoping today is a start of a consistent effort from her. We need it."
Smith and Tabitha Pool each led Michigan with 11 points. The Wolverines finished with 22 turnovers.
"Until we stop turning the ball over and giving teams 25, 26 points a game off turnovers, we're not going to win any games in the Big Ten," Michigan coach Sue Geuvara said. "It's tough to finish off a play when you're turning the ball over."
Purdue continued to dominate in the second half, thanks to Wright. Purdue opened with a 17-8 run and led by as many as 25. Wright scored 10 points in the second half as the Boilermakers improved to 7-0 at home and beat Michigan for the eighth straight time.
Valek added 12 points and had six assists and Sharika Webb also had six assists.