June 19, 2000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Excitement is brewing for the 2000-01 Purdue women's basketball campaign. The Boilermakers, who fought to a 23-8 record last season and their third straight Big Ten Tournament title, return four starters and seven letterwinners from that squad, while welcoming one of the most heralded recruiting classes in the country to West Lafayette. One year removed from its national-championship season, Purdue, under the guidance of second-year head coach Kristy Curry, is looking to solidify its position as one of the country's elite programs. What better way to prove its station than showing up in the Show-Me State at the pinnacle of "March Madness?"

Time will tell if the Boilermakers will meet anyone in St. Louis in the 2001 NCAA Women's Final Four. But it appears as if they have the right personnel to get there, starting with consensus All-American senior guard/forward Katie Douglas. The 2000 Big Ten Player of the Year as voted by the conference media, Douglas can do it all for the Boilermakers. Arguably the nation's most versatile player with the ability to play the 1, 2, 3 and 4 positions, Douglas' range is revealed in her statistics from a year ago. Not only did she lead the Big Ten in scoring (20.4 ppg), but she also paced Purdue in assists (4.7), steals (4.7) and minutes (37.5), while ranking tied for second in rebounding (6.5).

Camille Cooper, Douglas' favorite target, joins her classmate for one last go-round. The 6-4 center has established herself as one of the top post players in the nation. A first team All-Big Ten and conference all-tournament selection last season, Cooper made a statement in her junior finale game vs. No. 18 Oklahoma, scoring a career-high 34 points on 13-for-18 shooting from the field and 8-for-13 shooting from the free throw line. She led the Boilermakers with seven double-doubles and scored in double figures in 25 of their last 27 games.

Junior Kelly Komara gained loads of experience last year, but will likely shift from point guard to shooting guard this season. By allowing Komara to focus almost exclusively on scoring, she should be able to increase her points-per-game average (10.9) while improving on her team-best three-point field goal percentage (35.3).

Purdue fans hope senior guard Shinika Parks picks up where she left off last season. A dangerous penetrator and playmaker who transferred from Trinity Valley Community College, Parks averaged just over eight points and four rebounds per game last season, but contributed season highs in points (22) and rebounds (nine) with seven assists in the Boilermakers' NCAA Tournament loss to the Sooners.

Sophomore Mary Jo Noon will look to further bolster Purdue's inside game. The 6-5 center ably filled in for Cooper as a redshirt freshman in 1999-2000, averaging 4.8 points and 3.5 rebounds in 11.7 minutes per game. All those numbers have the potential to rise in Noon's second season.

Candi Crawford hopes to assist Purdue in a forward slot. The 6-1 senior averaged 2.2 points and 1.3 rebounds per game last season, but finished strong by helping lift the Boilermakers to an NCAA Tournament victory over Dartmouth with a season-high nine points and a career-high seven rebounds.

Classmate Mo-nique Langston averaged 0.9 points and 0.9 rebounds in seven games a year ago, but could see more action while occupying a perimeter position.

What those seven players are capable of is clear. What remains to be seen is how quickly and to what degree Purdue's highly-touted freshman class can make an impact. If postseason honors are any indication, the six newcomers should assist the Boilermakers immediately. Cherrise Graham (Conshohocken, Pa.), Erika Valek (Lubbock, Texas) and Shereka Wright (Copperas Cove, Texas) were all named first team Parade All-Americans and competed in the Nike All-American game. Wright earned additional honors as the USA Today, WBCA and Gatorade Player of the Year, while Graham was selected as Gatorade state player of the year for Pennsylvania. That trio is joined by Lindsey Hicks (Lebanon, Ohio), a fourth team Parade All-American, and all-staters Shalicia Hurns (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Beth Jones (Mason, Ohio).

With their top five scorers, five of their top six rebounders and their top three playmakers returning, the Boilermakers are aflame. Add fuel in the form of the Class of 2004, and get ready to watch the fire work.

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