GBI Express

women's basketball suddenly done Rayburn and Co. see second-round exit BY KYLE CHARTERS KCharters@GoldandBlack. com A side from a few murmurs here or there, the Boilermaker locker room stood largely silent late Monday night. Purdue's season was over, as were the careers of at least five seniors, when it lost to South Carolina on its home court in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. This wasn't how BritTom Campbell tany Rayburn envisioned Brittany Rayburn walks off the Mackey Arena court for the last time, as the Boilermakers lost to it ending, not in the least. South Carolina Monday night in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. But through the tears, she and spent a week fighting for her sonality and leadership helped our was able to reflect on the life in a hospital. younger players, how much they last four years. Her return galvanized the taught each and every one of us "You're friends for life," Rayburn said. "You play college ball, Boilermakers and helped them every day," Versyp said. "They're you go through thick and thin. It earn a trip to the NCAA Tourna- one of the most amazing group of got thick in a lot of parts for us, ment a year ago, after a rare one- academic students we've had as a senior class, as well. They won a and we stuck together. That's why year hiatus. Then, when Mingo tore her Big Ten championship." it's so emotional. We went through But a Sweet 16 appearance, or a lot with this team, and we've all ACL in the preseason, it was as if stuck together. We're the closest an old wound had been reopened. more, would have been nice, too. you could ever be, emotionally, But Purdue, although not the team Rayburn advanced that far only and from that aspect, it's a great it would have been with Mingo, once, as a freshman in 2008-09, thing to have. It's life. It's not just managed to stay ranked in the and was hoping for an opportuyour four years in college. It's life top 25, peaking at No. 13, won 25 nity to see how the Boilermakers after, and I think it makes all the games and earned a Big Ten Tour- matched up with top-seed Stannament title, a first for this group ford in the Fresno Regional next world of difference." weekend. This group of six seniors — in- of seniors. "They're probably the best But instead, South Carolina, jured Drey Mingo might have seen her last game, too, although she's group of young women I've ever which beat the Boilermakers in hoping for a sixth season — has been around in my coaching ca- nearly every facet of the game been through a lot the last two reer because of what we have gone Monday, will get that chance. The Boilermakers will have years. Mingo nearly died around through, how they handled the Thanksgiving 2010, when she near death of a teammate, how that opportunity to reach the contracted bacterial meningitis they persevered, how their per- Sweet 16 again. Maybe soon. DeGBIprint.com GoldandBlack.com "We went through a lot with this team, and we've all stuck together." Senior Brittany Rayburn spite losing at least five seniors, KK Houser and Courtney Moses return, as does Chantel Poston and Sam Ostarello, giving Purdue a nice core to build around. Mingo's return would put them in the top 25 once again. But talk of next season is for another day. Monday, the Boilermakers were reeling from a loss, with the emotions at times getting the best of them. "It's because we're the epitome of a team," Ostarello said. "We've been through so much adversity. It's unreal. Half the teams in the nation won't ever face a quarter of what we've been through. "They're all our sisters. That's why it hurts so bad. It's like losing a part of you. We knew it was going to come at some point in time, but we were hoping it was after we got to the Final Four. We just love everybody so much. Our team chemistry is just unbelievable." Buy Subaru and keep Indiana driving. Fort Wayne Subaru 5000 Illinois Road Fort Wayne, IN 47905 260-432-4567 www.fortwaynesubaru.com Bob Rohrman Subaru 1600 South Creasy Lane Lafayette, IN 47905 765-449-8100 www.bobrohrmansubaru.com Gold & Black IllustrateD • volume 22, express 26  •  2

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