College basketball

Senior star shakes off flu to keep Purdue streaking

By wire services
Published January 2, 2006

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - A little rest was all Purdue senior Aya Traore needed to overcome a stomach flu.

Traore matched her career high of 23 points, leading No.18 Purdue to a 61-59 victory Sunday over No.7 Ohio State.

The Boilermakers (10-2, 2-0 Big Ten) won their sixth in a row after the Buckeyes' Ashley Allen saw her winning 3-point attempt bounce off the rim as time expired.

Purdue coach Kristy Curry said Traore didn't practice Saturday after suffering from a stomach flu all week. But plenty of fluids and rest apparently did the trick.

"I talked to her on the phone (Saturday) and she had a little giggle in her voice and I knew she'd be okay," Curry said.

Traore helped Purdue overcome a nine-point halftime deficit. She had 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field in the second half.

"We just fed off of her," said Purdue guard Sharika Webb, who had 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Marscilla Packer scored eight in a row during an 11-0 first-half run for Ohio State (9-2, 1-1), which led 33-24 at halftime. Purdue ended the half by missing eight straight from the field and shot 37.5 percent (9-of-24) to 13-of-26 for the Buckeyes. Ohio State also made 6 of 10 3-pointers in the half.

Purdue scored seven in a row to start the second half, including six by Traore. It built its lead to 54-48 with 7:52 left.

NO.3 LSU 99, N.C. A&T 35: Quianna Chaney scored a career-high 19 and hit three 3-pointers to lead the host Tigers (11-0). Reserves Kristen Morris had 15 points and Ashley Thomas 13 as LSU's bench scored 56. Seimone Augustus made 6 of 6 field goals for 13 points, and RaShonta LeBlanc had 10 points and eight assists for LSU.

NO.10 MICH. ST. 77, MICHIGAN 44: Liz Shimek had 16 points and eight rebounds and reserve Lauren Aitch scored 14 for the Spartans (10-3), who opened their Big Ten title defense. Michigan State forced 29 turnovers and had a 53-31 rebound advantage. Freshman Aisha Jefferson added 10 points in the Spartans' 20th straight victory at home.

NO.14 STANFORD 91, UCLA 68: Candice Wiggins scored 30 and Brooke Smith added 23 points and a career-high 14 rebounds as the Cardinal (8-4, 3-1 Pac-10) won its 39th straight conference home game.

NO.16 NEW MEXICO 55, N.M. STATE 42: Abbie Letz scored a career-high 27 and added 10 rebounds as the host Lobos (10-3) beat the Aggies for the 20th straight time.

Men

ARKANSAS 83, W.ILL. 54: Ronnie Brewer, recovered from the flu, scored 23 to lead the host Razorbacks (11-2) to their ninth straight win heading into SEC play. Coach Stan Heath also picked up his 50th win with Arkansas.

N'WESTERN 82, N.COLO. 47: Vedran Vukusic scored 22 to lead four players in double figures for the host Wildcats (7-4). Sterling Williams scored a career-high 11 for Northwestern, picking up the slack for guard Mohamed Hachad, the team's second-leading scorer (9.8 points a game) who is out indefinitely after an appendectomy.

TEXAS TECH 61, UTEP 60: Martin Zeno scored 15, hit a tiebreaking free throw and grabbed a steal in the final seconds as the underachieving Red Raiders (8-6) fought off the Miners to win their second straight. Zeno sank the go-ahead free throw with 1:04 left.

[Last modified January 2, 2006, 02:30:25]