WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) -- Northwestern didn't give Shalicia
Hurns too many worries in her first career start. There were more
pressing concerns.
"She said, 'I'm nervous. What if I trip and fall or I throw the
shirt short? It might not reach the crowd,' " teammate Shereka
Wright said.
|  | | Purdue's Candi Crawford, right, knocks away an inbounds pass intended for Northwestern's Courtney Koester. |
The pregame toss of souvenir shirt -- a tradition among those who
start for Purdue -- went in the stands, and Hurns scored 12 points.
Wright scored a career-high 19 points, and No. 6 Purdue put the
game away early with a full-court press that forced 32 turnovers in
a 94-37 victory Sunday over Northwestern.
Purdue (15-3, 5-0 Big Ten) scored the first 10 points. When
Kelly Komara hit a 3-pointer at 15:10 of the first half, all five
starters had scored. Eight of 10 who played in the first half also
scored.
The Boilermakers, winners of seven straight games, were
relentless in their full-court press. They trapped in the corners
and at halfcourt, and never allowed Northwestern (4-11, 0-5) to run
its offense without being under pressure.
"Everything with us starts on the defensive end," Purdue
coach Kristy Curry said. "If we have an L in the column the next month
or two, it will be because we didn't guard anybody,"
Lindsey Hicks scored a career-high 14 points, Erika Valek had 11
and Camille Cooper added 10.
Hurns was averaging 8.2 points as a reserve. She started at
forward in place of Candi Crawford, averaging only 3.7.
"Yes, she's played great basketball, but it's about as much as
she's handled things academically and in the community," Curry
said. "I'm really pleased with where she is. She deserves to
start, and she'll continue to start."
Leslie Dolland led Northwestern with eight points.
The 57 points were the largest margin of victory for Purdue this
season, surpassing 30-point wins against Valparaiso and then-No. 14
Stanford.
After starting 3-1, Northwestern has lost 10 of its last 11
games. Its previous low point total was 58.
The Wildcats had 18 turnovers in the first half, and Purdue
caused 14 of those by steals. The Boilermakers finished with 22
steals.
When the Wildcats did get the ball across halfcourt, they
weren't very good. They missed their first eight shots before
Dolland scored on a layup. Northwestern made only 8-of-38
first-half shots and shot 30 percent overall.
Northwestern coach June Olkowski could relate to Minnesota's
Dennis Green. The Vikings were beaten by the Giants 41-0 in the NFC
Championship game.
"I just heard the score of the Giants-Vikings game, and I felt
like the Vikings today," she said. "The first eight possessions
we got good looks and missed some easy shots.
"The second five minutes of the game we handled their pressure
and got some buckets. From there, we just fell apart. Whenever we
turned around, there was a Purdue player there."
The Boilermakers led 25-12, then scored the next 12 points and
cruised to a 48-21 halftime lead. Purdue eased up on the press in
the second half but remained aggressive, closing with a 30-6 run.
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ALSO SEE
Women's College Basketball Scoreboard
Northwestern Clubhouse
Purdue Clubhouse
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