Indiana University
10/10 Purdue
Indiana Upsets No. 10 Purdue in Overtime
2/19/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 19, 2006
Box Score
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Cyndi Valentin made Indiana coach Sharon Versyp's emotional return to Mackey Arena a success.
Valentin hit a tying three-pointer with five seconds left in regulation and a pair of free throws with three seconds to go in overtime, giving the Hoosiers a 63-61 upset of No. 10 Purdue on Feb. 19.
The win marked IU's first defeat over a top-10 team since 2002, when it defeated Purdue, 55-41 in the Big Ten Tournament. It also marked the first time the Hoosiers had won in Mackey Arena since the 1996-97 season and was the first game back at Purdue as an opposing coach for Versyp, who played for the Boilermakers from 1985-88.
"Coming back to Purdue brought great memories," she said. "This arena really gives me a lot of peace. I feel at home here, and I tried to exude that confidence to my players."
It was the third straight overtime game between the two in-state rivals and snapped Purdue's six-game winning streak over the Hoosiers (15-10, 9-5 Big Ten).
"My emotions were stepping in last night," said Versyp, who left Purdue second in career points and assists. "I never talked about it with my players, but they knew my background."
Valentin led the Hoosiers with 25 points and overshadowed a career-high 32 by Purdue's Katie Gearlds.
A three-pointer by Valentin gave Indiana a 50-47 lead late in regulation, but Gearlds brought the Boilermakers (21-4, 12-2) within one with a pair of free throws. Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton followed with two baskets for a 53-50 lead.
Purdue still led 55-52 after two free throws by Gearlds, but Valentin hit another three-pointer on the run to send the game into overtime.
There were three more ties in the extra period, the last on a layup by Gearlds with four seconds left. But Valentin was fouled by Cherelle George on the inbounds play and sank the winning free throws.
"I think she was going for the ball and kind of got wrapped around me," Valentin said. "This win is big. We've been close, and today we showed we can finish."
Nikki Smith added 12 points for Indiana, all on three-pointers
Indiana used a 15-4 run to take a five-point lead midway through the opening period and widened its lead to 28-21 six minutes later, but it didn't last long.
The first of four three-pointers by Gearlds started a 13-0 streak for the Boilermakers spanning halftime.
A steal by Gearlds and fast-break layup and a free throw by Aya Traore brought Purdue within one point with 2 minutes left in the first half. Gearlds' second 3-pointer a half-minute later put the Boilermakers back into the lead, and after an Indiana turnover, Wisdom-Hylton scored for a 32-28 lead at the break.
"They had a run, then we had a run and it was back and forth after that," Versyp said.
Valentin said the emotion surrounding Versyp's return was a factor in the Hoosiers' victory.
"But playing Purdue at Purdue is motivation enough," she said.
The win gives IU another half of a point in the AT&T Crimson & Gold Cup presented by Simon Malls. The Hoosiers now lead the Boilermakers 6.50 to 3.0 in the competiton so far this year.
Indiana continues its three-game road swing to close out the regular season with its next game at No. 17/16 Minnesota on Thursday, Feb. 23. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. (EST) and can be heard locally on WHCC-FM 105.1 with Jeremy Gray calling all the action. Additionally, the game will air live on Fox SportsNet North.
