September 18, 1998

Just two short years ago, the Purdue women's basketball program was at a crossroads. The Boilermakers went into the 1996-97 season with a new coaching staff and a 12-player roster made up of three returnees and nine newcomers.

Since then the program - built on commitment and hard work - has won the 1997 Big Ten Conference regular-season championship and the 1998 conference tournament title while making two trips to the NCAA Tournament (advancing to the second round and Elite Eight, respectively). Now the 1998-99 Boilermakers have their sights set on bigger and better things; specifically, the Women's Final Four and a national championship.

Purdue returns all 13 players from last season's squad that finished 23-10 overall and 10-6 in the Big Ten (tied for third place) and was ranked 11th in the final USA Today/ESPN poll and 21st by the Associated Press. The Boilermakers fell a mere seven points shy of reaching the Final Four, losing to Louisiana Tech 72-65 in the Midwest Regional final. Needless to say, the expectations are great.

"We are extremely excited about this season," second-year head coach Carolyn Peck says. "Our biggest challenge is to not change what we have been doing, which is taking things one game at a time. Everyone is talking about the Final Four and a national championship, but if you focus too much on what lies down the road you have a chance of tripping on something right in front of you. We have set our goals high, but we can't lose sight of the intermediate steps it takes to reach the summit."

Following is a position-by-position look at the 1998-99 Boilermakers:

Guard

Few will argue that Purdue has the nation's best backcourt duo in senior co-captains Ukari Figgs and Stephanie White-McCarty. Moreover, the Boilermakers may boast the finest four guards with sophomore Katie Douglas and freshman Kelly Komara. Each can play either point or shooting guard with Douglas and White-McCarty able to move out to small forward, as well.

Figgs (5-9) quietly has made quite a name for herself. Last season she set school records with 56 three-point field goals and 85.9 percent free throw shooting while ranking second on the team in scoring (15.5), third in rebounds (5.1) and assists (3.7) and fourth in steals (61). A second team All-Big Ten honoree, Figgs was a member of the 1998 USA Basketball Select Team.

"I think Ukari is finally starting to receive the recognition she should," Peck says. "She can do it all, and she brings so much to this team with her emotion and work ethic. There is no doubt in my mind that she is going to have an outstanding senior year.

White-McCarty (5-11), who got married May 30, 1998, fully blossomed a year ago. She paced Purdue in scoring (20.6), rebounds (6.1), assists (4.8) and steals (79) and ranked second in three-point field goals (45) en route to being named first team All-American by Women's Basketball Journal and Women's Basketball News Service, honorable mention by the Associated Press and Kodak and third team Academic All-American.

"Stephanie has all the potential to be one of the best players in the country this season," Peck says. "Everyone knows about her abilities, and she also is a coach on the floor. What people may not know is the commitment she has to the Purdue women's basketball program. Nobody cares more than Stephanie."

The 6-1 Douglas sparked the Boilermakers with her intensity and passion a year ago while averaging 8.6 points (third on team), 4.3 rebounds (fourth) and 3.7 assists (second). She tied the school freshman record with 62 steals, ranked third in assists (123) and was 10th in blocked shots (14). The left-hander is the only first-year player in school history to rank in the top 10 in each of those categories. She joined Figgs on the USA Select Team.

"Katie's height immediately makes her valuable in the backcourt," Peck says. "Add to that her ability to handle the ball, penetrate to the basket and play aggressive defense, and she is quickly becoming an elite player. She worked hard on her outside shot over the summer and has improved."

Joining the mix is the 5-7 Komara, who was named third team prep All-American and Indiana's Miss Basketball (the fourth to go on to Purdue) after averaging 21.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 4.4 steals as a senior at Lake Central High School. She guided her team to the Indiana 4A state championship game and a 26-1 overall record. Komara has all the tools and is an extremely confident player with a winning mentality.

"When Kelly steps on the floor, she is ready to go to battle with her teammates," Peck says. "What I really like about her is she is not into herself. She wants to do whatever it takes to win. That's her priority, so she fits right in on this team. She has tremendous talent and will make an immediate impact."

Junior Tiffany Young is another key ingredient to the rotation. Young (5-11) started all 33 games last season and averaged 5.1 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists. She has developed into a bona fide defensive specialist.

"Each year Tiffany has shown vast improvement in all areas of her game, and I think she is on the verge of becoming one of the best defensive players in the Big Ten," Peck says. "She's quick and never seems to get tired. Plus, she has a nice jump shot and has worked on becoming an even better ball-handler."

Also back are sophomore Mo-nique Langston and juniors Danielle Bird and Shayla Potter.

Langston (5-11), who also can play small forward, was hampered by left shoulder problems last year that limited her to 11 games. She had offseason surgery and now is at full strength.

"Mo-nique has worked extremely hard over the summer," Peck says. "She has gained a lot of strength and also worked on her quickness. Her greatest ability is her shooting, and we expect her to help us this season."

The 5-7 Bird is a former walkon who has earned a scholarship. She played in just four games a year ago but was very valuable in practice. She earned Academic All-Big Ten honors.

"The scholarship was not a gift," Peck says. "Danielle earned it with her hard work on and off the court. She sets a wonderful example with her work ethic. She also has continued to improve her shooting."

Potter (5-6) is in her third year as a walkon after appearing in three games last season.

"Shayla gets a feather in her cap for staying committed to this team," Peck says. "I commend her for working hard to make herself a better player."

Forward

Junior Mackenzie Curless (6-1) has started all 61 games during her first two collegiate campaigns. She averaged 7.8 points (fourth on team) and 4.0 rebounds in 1997-98. Curless has earned the reputation as something of a "Miss March," averaging 11.2 points and 5.5 rebounds in six career NCAA Tournament games.

"I look for Mackenzie to continue being a key player for us on the inside," Peck says. "She has such a pure shot and has worked a lot on her quickness and defense. She is a blue-collar worker who is very coachable and wants to do whatever she can to make our team better. She really is a coach's dream."

Also back is 6-0 junior Michelle Duhart, who continued to wreak havoc on opponents' offenses with her stellar defensive post play. She also became more of an offensive threat by averaging 5.2 points, up from 2.0 the previous year. Duhart ranked second on the team in rebounds (5.4) and steals (63) while starting all 33 games.

"You don't always see how important Michelle is to this team in the statistics, but she is vital to our success," Peck says. "She works so hard.She is a tremendous rebounder and defensive player and continues to get more involved in the offense."

Two sophomores, Candi Crawford (6-1) and Connie Murdock (6-2), return, as does junior Amy Shaffer (6-0).

Crawford averaged 1.9 points and 1.0 rebounds in 29 games last year. She saw the bulk of her action at the top of the Boilermakers' full-court press. Crawford underwent offseason surgery on her right foot.

"Candi came to Purdue with as good a work ethic as you will find from a high school player," Peck says. "She will continue to be the hunter at the top of the press and also have more of an offensive presence."

Murdock saw action in 18 games in 1997-98 and averaged 2.2 points and 1.2 rebounds.

"Connie is probably our most athletic player," Peck says. "She can jump up and touch the rim. She worked extremely hard over the summer on her post moves, and with her ball-handling ability and quickness she has the potential to move outside."

Shaffer, a two-time Academic All-Big Ten pick, is another former walkon who has earned a scholarship. She played in six games a year ago.

"Amy has sacrificed a lot for the good of the team," Peck says. "She comes to practice every day ready to work, knowing she probably won't play in many games. She also has done some tremendous things academically and has earned her scholarship."

The only newcomer at this position is Beth Lapaich, who joined the team as a walkon and has three years of eligibility. Lapaich (6-0) played at Butler in 1996-97, averaging 1.4 points, before transferring to Purdue. She suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee in late August.

"Beth came to me and said she would do whatever she could to help this team, and that level of commitment impressed me," Peck says. "She's smart, competitive and has a nice outside shot. The players have raved about her. I think she will be a surprise and do some things to help us."

Center

With 6-4 sophomore Camille Cooper and 6-5 freshman Mary Jo Noon, Purdue indeed has twin towers.

Cooper averaged 6.6 points and 3.3 rebounds last season to go with a team-leading 38 blocked shots (second on the school freshman list). She played for the Big Ten All-Star team that traveled to Denmark and Sweden last June.

"What I like about Camille is she has both a finesse and a power game," Peck says. "She has gotten much stronger and aggressive but still has the ability to knock down a shot away from the basket. She runs the floor extremely well and is a force defensively because of her shot-blocking skills."

Noon was an Indiana All-Star after averaging 25.2 points and 13.3 rebounds asa senior at Jeffersonville High School. She led her team to a 21-3 record and a regional championship. Noon, the third-tallest player in school history, has great hands and a soft touch around the basket.

"With Mary Jo joining Camille, I feel very good about our post game," Peck says. "Mary Jo catches the ball, is agile around the basket and can finish. She also is a very good free throw shooter. She worked hard over the summer to come here in the very best condition she could."

Schedule

In one word, the schedule assembled by Peck and assistant coach Pam Stackhouse is rigorous. The Boilermakers open the season at home against three-time defending national champion Tennessee in the State Farm Hall of Fame Tipoff Classic on Nov. 15.

Next up is a western road trip to Arizona (1998 NCAA Sweet 16) and perennial power Stanford on Nov. 19 and Nov. 22, respectively. Purdue also will travel to Florida (Sweet 16) and play host to Louisiana Tech (national runner-up) in the Boilermaker BlockBuster in Indianapolis on Dec. 19.

"We have put together quite a schedule," Peck says. "But there is no doubt in my mind that playing a lot of quality teams early last season helped us immensely when it came to the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments. Our players believe they can compete with the very best teams in the country, and they are excited to do so."

The Big Ten slate begins at home against Minnesota on Dec. 30, with the conference tournament, now in its fifth year, set for Feb. 26-March 1 at the RCA Dome inIndianapolis. Purdue will play four Big Ten teams just once - at Iowa on Jan. 10, at Illinois on Jan. 17, Wisconsin at home Jan. 24 and Michigan at home Feb. 7.

"We will face a battle each and every game in the Big Ten," Peck says. "There are no automatic wins in this conference. I'm sure teams will be out to get us since we won the tournament last season, so we will have to be prepared to go to war every game."

The Purdue women's basketball program was at a crossroads two years ago. Now all signs point in the same direction ... to San Jose, Calif., and the Women's Final Four. Westward Ho!

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