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By ANTONYA ENGLISH
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 3, 2001
TAMPA -- When Kristy Curry took over as coach of Purdue two years ago, she had big shoes to fill.
Curry replaced former coach Carolyn Peck, who left for the WNBA after leading the Boilermakers to a national championship. Curry became the first coach in NCAA women's history to inherit a national championship team.
Two years later, the program remains successful. Last season the Boilermakers finished ranked 13th in the nation with a 23-8 record and earned their third consecutive Big Ten Tournament championship.
Purdue is 20-3, undefeated in Big Ten play (10-0) and ranked No. 6. The Boilermakers are riding one of the longest winning streaks in the nation (12).
And like Duke, Purdue's success has been aided by freshmen.
Forward Shereka Wright, last year's Gatorade National Player of the Year, is averaging 9.8 points and 4.7 rebounds. Freshman Shalicia Hurns is averaging 11 points and 6.9 rebounds and Erika Valek is averaging 6.4 points. Beth Jones and Lindsey Hicks have seen significant playing time. With the loss of sophomore Mary Jo Noon to an ACL injury Jan. 4, the freshmen have been pressed into service and have responded well.
"They really haven't had a choice but to produce," Curry said. "We have five seniors and five freshmen. Losing Noon, they really haven't had a choice but to step up for us. I don't think there is any freshman in the country that has shouldered what Erika has right now. She deserves a lot of credit for being a true point."
Purdue's freshmen have the luxury of learning from two All-America candidates, Katie Douglas and Camille Cooper, both members of the national championship team.
"Katie spends so much time with them on and off the court," Curry said. "I think that really helps. "(Former players) Stephanie White-McCarty and Ukari Figgs set that tradition and Katie has followed. I think that's one of the biggest questions we'll have in the future: Who will our leaders be?"
BIG TEN-THOUSAND: The Big Ten led the nation in women's attendance for five seasons, but slipped to No. 2 last season. To get back to No. 1, Penn State has initiated a campaign to increase attendance this month. The school is trying to get 10,000 fans to fill the Bryce Jordan Center for each of Penn State's three remaining home games in February. They are sponsoring promotions such as "Daddy-Daughter Day" and offering reduced food prices to entice fans.
HIGH SCHOOL NEWS: The Women's Basketball Coaches Association will host the 10th annual Phoenix/WBCA High School All-America Game on April 7 in Hartford, Conn.
The game will feature 20 of the nation's top female high school seniors in a college-style regulation game. Last year's game featured players such as Connecticut's Diana Taurasi (who scored 24 in UConn's loss to Tennessee on Thursday), Ashley Battle and Morgan Valley, Tennessee's Ashley Robinson, and Duke's Alana Beard, Iciss Tillis and Rometra Craig. Other notables as Chamique Holdsclaw, Shea Ralph, Katie Smith, Olympia Scott and Nykesha Sales have participated.
- Antonya English covers women's college basketball. He can be reached at (813) 226-3389 or by e-mail at english@sptimes.com.
500 -- Broadcasts by Penn State radio play-by-play announcer Jerry Fisher, reached during Thursday night's 69-52 win over Ohio State.
10 -- Consecutive wins by Chattanooga, which scored one of its most lopsided Southern Conference victories, 89-47 over Appalachian State.
6 -- Big 12 teams ranked in the AP poll this week, a first.
6 -- Florida's losing streak against No. 5 Georgia that ended with a 75-64 win Thursday.
3 -- 30-point games by Washington senior guard Megan Franza. Her third came at California on Jan. 27, with 22 points coming in the first half.
During halftime of Thursday's UConn-Tennessee game, former Tennessee All-American Chamique Holdsclaw became the fourth woman to have her jersey retired. Holdsclaw, the all-time leading scorer in Tennessee and SEC history, and the Vols' all-time leading rebounder, plays for the WNBA's Washington Mystics. Holdsclaw's No. 23 joins UT assistant coach Holly Warlick's No. 22 (1976-1980), Bridgette Gordon's No. 30 (1985-89) and Daedra Charles' No. 32 (1988-91).
"I got choked up," Holdsclaw said. "I shed a tear. I know how much this program means to me."
Florida's Vanessa Hayden became the first freshman this season to earn the SEC honor, averaging 19 points and 12 rebounds in 19 minutes per game. Purdue freshman Kelly Mazzante averaged 21 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in wins over Indiana and Michigan State last week. In the Big 12, junior Danielle Crockrom of Baylor led the team in scoring and rebounding last week in wins over No. 7 Iowa State and No. 17 Texas. While recording her 12th and 13th double doubles of the season, she averaged 28 points and had 20 rebounds against Texas, her third 20-rebound effort this season. Charlotte senior guard Tonya Phifer scored 55 (including a career-best 35 against DePaul) and shot 50 percent from the field in two games.
"ESPN started this. It's great for women's basketball, but I'm not convinced that it's great for Tennessee. It's great for the fans, but I'm looking at the big picture, and I'm not sure that it is in our best interest. (Scheduling Connecticut twice) is a choice I wouldn't favor. I've thought about it, but I'm not changing my mind." -- PAT SUMMITT, Tennessee coach on the rationale of playing UConn twice during the season, after Thursday night's 92-88 win over the Huskies.
SUNDAY: No. 19 Vanderbilt at No. 9 Florida, 5 p.m., Sunshine
Tulane at DePaul, 5 p.m., ESPN2
WEDNESDAY: No. 12 Texas Tech at No. 20 Baylor (a chance for Baylor to gain ground in the fierce conference race).
THURSDAY: Marquette at Louisville. (The top teams in the C-USA American Division) -- Compiled by ANTONYA ENGLISH.