Jan 4, 2003
By TOM COYNE
AP Sports Writer
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) - Shereka Wright scored 18 points, and No. 7 Purdue used a 15-0 run to break open a close game and beat No. 13 Notre Dame 71-54 Saturday.
Purdue was shooting just 21 percent (7-of-33) when Erika Valek made a 15-foot shot to end the Boilermakers' drought of 7:15 without a basket. The shot cut Notre Dame's lead to 22-20 and sparked the 15-0 run that continued into the second half.
The Boilermakers (11-1) extended their lead to 63-39 when Mary Jo Noon made a pair of free throws with 5:57 left.
Courtney LaVere had 23 points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots to lead Notre Dame (8-3). Jacqueline Batteast added 14 points and Le'Tania Severe had 10 points and six assists. Alicia Ratay, Notre Dame's only starter left from the Irish team that beat Purdue for the national title two years ago, was held scoreless, managing only two shots. She averages 11.4 points a game.
Valek added 15 points and six assists for the Boilermakers. Emily Heikes had 10 points as Purdue's reserves outscored Notre Dame's 18-5.
A crowd of 9,483, Notre Dame's fifth-largest home crowd for a women's game, saw the team's home winning streak against nonconference teams end at 33. The streak dated to an 81-69 loss to another Big Ten team, Wisconsin, on Dec. 9, 1996.
The defeat was just the fifth at home for Notre Dame against ranked teams in 77 games. The last ranked team to beat Notre Dame at home was No. 1 Connecticut on Dec. 6, 1998, a 106-81 loss.
The Boilermakers, who led 27-22 at halftime, opened a 32-22 lead when Jones hit a 3-pointer with 18:49 to go. Purdue went ahead 54-33 when Heikes scored inside with 11:25 left as the Boilermakers made 16 of 23 shots after their slow start.
The Boilermakers shot just 37 percent for the game but forced 25 turnovers and outrebounded the Irish 41-33.