We Won! The trip in the snow was worth it! OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Purdue's suddenly sizzling offense has the Boilermakers one win away from what would be an improbable berth in the Final Four.
For the second straight game, Purdue built a big lead with strong shooting, and the sixth-seeded Boilermakers held off a late rally to beat Rutgers 67-61 Sunday night to advance to the round of eight in the NCAA tournament.
Lakisha Freeman scored 18 points, FahKara Malone hit a key basket in the final minute and Jodi Howell added the clinching free throws with 6.2 seconds left for Purdue (25-10), which will play top-seeded Oklahoma, a 70-59 winner over fourth-seeded Pittsburgh, on Tuesday in the regional final. The game will tipoff at 9 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN.
For the second straight game, Purdue built a big lead with strong shooting, and the sixth-seeded Boilermakers held off a late rally to beat Rutgers 67-61 Sunday night to advance to the round of eight in the NCAA tournament.
Lakisha Freeman scored 18 points, FahKara Malone hit a key basket in the final minute and Jodi Howell added the clinching free throws with 6.2 seconds left for Purdue (25-10), which will play top-seeded Oklahoma, a 70-59 winner over fourth-seeded Pittsburgh, on Tuesday in the regional final. The game will tipoff at 9 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN.
Headlines today----all are similar
Underdog Purdue faces Sooners for Final Four trip
By JEFF LATZKE, AP Sports Writer Mar 30, 6:43 pm EDT
By JEFF LATZKE, AP Sports Writer Mar 30, 6:43 pm EDT
Purdue women face Oklahoma for Final Four trip
Purdue women stand between Oklahoma, Final Four
Purdue Women Face Home-Advantaged Sooners Tonight
Women's Basketball: Sooners prepare for Purdue
Purdue Women Regain Balance After a Season Full of Stumbles
By JERÉ LONGMAN
Published: March 30, 2009
OKLAHOMA CITY — Every time she leaves a game, Purdue guard Jodi Howell rides a stationary bike to keep her aching, surgically repaired knees limber.
Published: March 30, 2009
OKLAHOMA CITY — Every time she leaves a game, Purdue guard Jodi Howell rides a stationary bike to keep her aching, surgically repaired knees limber.
In a broader sense, the Boilermakers (25-10) have been pedaling up a steep incline against injury, loss of composure and national indifference to reach the final of the Oklahoma City Regional. A victory over Oklahoma (31-4) on Tuesday would make Purdue only the sixth women’s team seeded sixth or lower to reach the Final Four.
Earlier this season, seemingly secure leads against Stanford and Maryland deflated like tires. Point guard FahKara Malone dislocated the ring finger on her shooting hand and missed nine games. For the first time, the Boilermakers, who won a national title in 1999, were seeded as low as sixth entering the N.C.A.A. tournament. When conversation turned to potential champions, nobody mentioned Purdue.
“Flying under the radar, sometimes that’s a good thing,” Howell said.
Earlier this season, seemingly secure leads against Stanford and Maryland deflated like tires. Point guard FahKara Malone dislocated the ring finger on her shooting hand and missed nine games. For the first time, the Boilermakers, who won a national title in 1999, were seeded as low as sixth entering the N.C.A.A. tournament. When conversation turned to potential champions, nobody mentioned Purdue.
“Flying under the radar, sometimes that’s a good thing,” Howell said.
