Jan 23, 2003
By DAN GELSTON
Associated Press Writer
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Erika Valek scored a career-high 26 points, and reserve Missy Taylor broke the game open with two straight 3s as 12th-ranked Purdue beat Iowa 83-64 Thursday night.
The Boilermakers (15-3, 4-2 Big Ten) improved to 9-0 at home this season and 26-1 hosting conference teams the last four years.
Kristi Faulkner led Iowa (10-6, 2-3) with a career-high 27 points, and Jennie Lillis added 20.
The Purdue lead fluctuated between 10 and 15 points for the early part of the second half until Taylor came in and provided a long-range spark.
Taylor, who had eight points, hit consecutive 3s from the right baseline to make it 65-49. Taylor would score again on Purdue's next possession to make it 67-51 with 8:11 left.
Valek took over from there, making four of Purdue's next five baskets for a 77-57 lead. Valek scored 23 points twice previously. She went 12-for-20 from the field and had seven assists.
Lillis scored her 1,000th career point, and is now one of 11 Hawkeyes with more than 1,000 points and 500 rebounds.
Iowa was playing its 800th game since beginning women's basketball in 1974. The Hawkeyes are 490-310 overall and 262-131 in Big Ten games.
Purdue snapped a tie midway through the first half with a 21-8 run and never trailed thereafter.
Faulkner hit a 3-pointer that pulled Iowa to 40-30 with 2:05 left, but a 3 by Sharika Webb helped Purdue take a 45-32 lead into halftime.