Santa Barbara 83, No. 6 Purdue 82 OT

Wednesday December 18, 2002

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) Although they had won 38 consecutive games against non-conference opponents, the Purdue Boilermakers had never visited UC Santa Barbara's Thunderdome.

``This was a great environment,'' Purdue coach Kristy Curry said after UCSB defeated the sixth-ranked Boilermakers 83-82 in overtime Tuesday night. ``We knew it would be a tough place to play. This is what we're going to see every night in the Big Ten.''

The two-time defending Big Ten champions lost for the first time this year after a 7-0 start, the team's best in nine seasons.

It was a game that went down to the wire more than once before UCSB, 4-1, pulled it out on Jess Hansen's 3-point basket with 31 seconds remaining in overtime.

The basket gave the Gauchos an 83-81 lead, and the Boilermakers one last chance when Emily Heikes rebounded teammate Shereka Wright's shot and was fouled with 1.5 seconds left.

Heikes made her first free throw but missed the second. UCSB's Brandy Richardson grabbed the rebound as time ran out.

``This victory gives us great confidence and great spirits for the Christmas break,'' UCSB coach Mark French said. The Gauchos were missing their leading scorer, sophomore Kristen Mann, out with a hairline fracture of her left forearm.

Hansen, had 21 points, including six 3-pointers, and center Lindsay Taylor had 22 points and 11 rebounds.

The Boilermakers had scored six points in the final nine seconds of regulation to send the game into overtime.

With UCSB leading 72-67, Beth Jones was fouled behind the arc and made three free throws.

Lisa Willett made one of two foul shots to put UCSB ahead 73-70, but Purdue's junior forward Lindsey Hicks banked in a three-pointer with four-tenths of a second remaining to tie the score.

``Initially it takes you back for a second when they bank in a three, but we beat Florida in overtime, so we've been there before,'' said Willett, who scored 18 points. ``We got back together and pulled out a victory.''

Jones scored 18 points, including a 3-pointer that put the Boilermakers up 81-80 with 50 seconds left in overtime.

Purdue center Mary Jo Noon, the team's only senior, fouled out with 2:47 remaining in the game, and the 6-foot-8 Taylor made two free throws to give UCSB a 68-61 lead.

Taylor sank 10 of 11 free throws as the Gauchos went 25-for-32 from the line. Purdue made 16 of 24.

``We had trouble keeping them off the foul line,'' Curry said.

The Gauchos took an early lead, making their first five shots before Purdue rallied to tie the score 35-35 at halftime.

``We didn't come out and play Purdue basketball at the start,'' Wright said. ``There's just so many holes you can dig out of.''

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)