Oct. 30, 2003

Senior Shereka Wright leads the way for the Boilermaker frontcourt. The 5-foot-10 small forward, a preseason John R. Wooden All-America team selection, returns for her senior campaign, looking to take Purdue to the promised land.

Wright has etched her name all over the Purdue record books, and enters the 2003-04 season ranked in the top 15 all-time in points, points per game, rebounds, assists, blocked shots and minutes played. A two-time All-Big Ten and honorable mention Kodak All-America selection, Wright averaged a team-high 18.9 points and a team-best 6.3 rebounds per game as a junior, and owns a career scoring average of 15.6 points per game, ranking third all-time. Throughout her career, Wright has done a great deal of her damage from the free throw line, as she has averaged 7.8 trips to the charity stripe in 102 games played. Wright, who already owns the school records in career free throws made and attempted, averaged 6.8 makes on 9.1 attempts from the stripe per game last year.

Wright's quickness and athleticism set her apart, and make Curry glad that she wears old gold and black.

"Shereka is extremely gifted, but what impresses me beyond her talent is that she performs consistently," Curry says. "When you consider the numbers she has put up for the last three years and then take into consideration that she has led us to a Final Four, an Elite Eight, two Big Ten championships and a conference tournament title, I can't imagine there being another player out there more valuable than she is. I'd take her every day of the week and twice on Sunday."

Another player to whom Curry can look is Lindsey Hicks. The 6-foot-1 senior power forward entered the starting lineup in 2002-03, and has continued to make progress since her junior season ended. Hicks averaged 7.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game last year, increasing her scoring average by 4.9 points and her rebound average by 2.9 caroms per game from 2001-02. After converting from guard to forward upon her arrival at Purdue in 2000, Hicks has settled nicely into her adopted position.

"Lindsey has come a long way from the first day she came on campus," Curry says. "I think she was a little hesitant about becoming a forward because she was so used to being on the perimeter in high school. But her perimeter skills combined with her great size give us another dimension at the forward position."

While Wright is a slasher and Hicks plays more of a finesse game, forward Emily Heikes could be characterized as Purdue's primary banger. With good footwork and the ability to score, rebound and defend, the 6-foot-1 junior easily can handle transitioning between the power forward and center positions.

Heikes averaged 6.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in a reserve role as a sophomore, but hopes to see those numbers increase as her minutes go up.

"Emily is our diamond in the rough," Curry says. "She really doesn't get enough credit for all the little things she does that make us a better basketball team. She did not get a lot of attention coming out of high school, but she has been a tremendous addition to our program. And she is a pleasure to coach."

Another diamond in the rough may be junior college transfer Aya Traore. A 6-foot-1 small forward in the mold of Wright, Traore comes to the Boilermakers after two years at Dixie State College in St. George, Utah. A native of Senegal, Traore was a second team NJCAA All-American as a sophomore after averaging 21.3 points per game for the Lady Rebels. Traore is a proven scorer who dropped at least 20 points in 23 games in 2002-03.

Curry is interested to see how Traore makes the transition to major Division I basketball.

"Aya has a lot of talent and a ton of athletic ability," Curry says. "I love her work ethic and her desire to learn. She could be an impact-type player for us."

Sophomore Carol Duncan was a factor at times last season for the Boilermakers. The 6-foot-1 power forward/center played in 34 of 35 games in 2002-03, and averaged 2.0 points and 2.1 rebounds in just less than nine minutes per game.

Duncan has great speed, strength and stamina, and should have the opportunity to increase all her averages in 2003-04.

"Carol is a tremendous athlete and she is a hard worker," Curry says. "She is committed to making herself a better player and to becoming a key part to our success."

Sophomore Sabrina Keys also would like to increase her role from a season ago. The 6-foot-1 power forward appeared in 23 games as a freshman, averaging 1.3 points and 1.1 rebounds per contest.

Keys is another strong inside presence who has the ability to bolster Purdue's inside game.

"Sabrina is very physical and can be a presence for us," Curry says. "How big a role she plays depends upon how much she improved from the end of last season."

Curry would like to see the same from newcomers Erin Lawless and Indi Johnson. Lawless, who scored 16 points in the McDonald's All-America game in April, was the 2003 Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year and Illinois Miss Basketball runner-up for Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Ill. Like Hicks, the 6-foot-2 Lawless has forward size accompanied by perimeter skills. Her ability to mix it up in the paint and knock down three-pointers are two reasons why she likely will see plenty of court time. Her penchant for winning, as evidenced by her 113-12 four-year record with the Friars, is yet another reason.

"Erin is a fearless competitor," Curry says. "She brings a real fire and passion for the game to us, along with a great deal of talent and skill. I'll be surprised if she doesn't make an impact right away."

Johnson comes to Purdue from Narbonne High School, which is considered to be one of the best programs in the country. A 6-foot-2 forward, Johnson already has a national championship to her credit, having won the USA Today crown as a freshman and sophomore at Narbonne.

Johnson brings even more size and strength to the Boilermakers' inside game.

"Indi provides us with another big body in the paint," Curry says. "She comes from an outstanding high school program and understands what it takes to win. I forsee her challenging for a spot in our rotation."

Rounding out the frontcourt is junior Hannah Anderson, who joined the program as a walkon in the 2001-02 season. A local product from West Lafayette High School, the 6-foot Anderson provides the Boilermakers with intangibles that do not show up on the stat sheet.

"Hannah is a very important member of our team," Curry says. "She is refreshing to be around because she cherishes the experience. Hopefully at the end of her career she can say that she got in return at least as much as she gave."

Coming Oct. 31 - A look at the Boilermakers' 2003-04 schedule.

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