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EVENTS
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE
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ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- Purdue's team defense on Jackie Stiles was good enough to contain the nation's all-time leading Division I scorer. Katie Douglas scored 25 points as Purdue used tough defense and strong rebounding to subdue Southwest Missouri State, 81-64, in the first national semifinal of the NCAA Tournament at Savvis Center. Purdue (31-6) will face Notre Dame in Sunday's championship. "I thought that we really executed our game plan to a 'T'," Purdue coach Kristy Curry said. "I am very, very proud that we are going to have a chance to play for a national championship." Stiles came out strong, scoring seven points as Southwest Missouri State took an 11-5 lead just over four minutes into the game. The Boilermakers would stiffen, however, and held Stiles scoreless for the rest of the half. Purdue took the lead for good at 23-22 on a layup by Shinika Parks with 9:37 left. The Boilermakers closed with the final 10 points of the half, including five by Douglas, for a 47-30 lead at intermission. Stiles came back with 10 of the first 12 points for the Lady Bears (29-6), who pulled within 51-40 with 16 minutes to play. They stayed within striking distance as a basket by Carly Deer trimmed the deficit to 65-54 with 8:25 to play. But Douglas responded with a 3-pointer, a basket and a free throw for a 71-54 lead with 6 1/2 minutes remaining. The Boilermakers took their largest lead at 79-57 on two free throws by Douglas with 2:31 left. "I really wanted to be aggressive tonight from the get-go," Douglas said. "I think that helps me throughout the game, if I'm aggressive at first." Camille Cooper had 16 points and Kelly Komara added 13 for Purdue, which won the national title in 1999. The starting backcourt of Douglas and Komara combined to convert 12-of-17 free throws. The Boilermakers held a 46-25 rebounding advantage as Shalicia Hurns grabbed 12 and freshman Shereka Wright added 10. Purdue turned 21 offensive rebounds into 18 second-chance points. "She was all over the glass, wasn't she?" Curry said of Hurns. "I thought Shereka and Shalicia really took up the slack from not sending Wright into the boards. We needed them back in transition." Stiles finished with a hard-earned 22 points on 7-of-21 shooting in her final collegiate game. Purdue rotated a variety of defenders on the All-American, including Douglas, Parks and Wright. "I think at times we made other players beat us and we really got on Jackie and got two people on her and it's tough to score," Douglas said. "You couldn't say enough about our great defensive effort tonight as a team." On one possession in the first half, Wright followed the elusive Stiles around a number of screens and was successfully able to deny her the ball. That effort was indicative of the defensive effort the entire night. "Give Purdue credit," said Stiles, who finished her career with 3,393 points. "They did a great job defensively. They made me work so hard in the first half. The second half, I sort of ran out of gas." Stiles exited to a standing ovation with 65 seconds left. "You could never prepare for this moment, knowing it is the last time you'll be playing as a Lady Bear," she said. "I just had so much pride playing for Southwest Missouri State and you never want something as good as that experience I've had to end." Tara Mitchem and Carly Deer added 11 points apiece for the Lady Bears. Southwest Missouri State had 18 turnovers, including 12 in the first half. The Boilermakers capitalized with 21 points off the miscues. "They did disrupt us," an emotional Southwest Missouri State coach Cheryl Burnett said. "My tears have been when the game is over that I no longer get the privilege of coaching this fine group of women. It was fun coaching them every day." Erika Rante led Southwest Missouri State with just five rebounds. The Lady Bears, who shot 43 percent (24-of-56), had a season-high 10-game winning streak snapped. |
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