Gold and Black is a multi-platform media company that covers Purdue athletics like no one else.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/200613
freshmen guards Branndais Agee ppg, 4.6 rpg). and Aerial Powers missed most of Eight total return from the Cornlast season after suffering injuries. huskers' 2012-13 squad, which rallied Agee, ranked No. 28 in the 2012 at the end of the season to advance recruiting class by ESPN.com, tore to the Sweet 16. One reason: Nebrasher ACL five games into the season; ka's defense, once a sore spot, was Powers, a top-100 recruit, redshirtimproved, as it gave up only 59 points ed after tearing her Achilles' tendon per game. in the preseason. Also rookie guard Look for freshman Allie Havers, a Tori Jankoska could make an imme6-5 forward, to make an early impact. diate impact. Nebraska might get a home boost And is this finally the season this season, too, as it opens up Pinnafor Madison Williams' return? The cle Bank Arena, a $179-million facility 6-foot-7 center and former McDonin downtown Lincoln. ald's All-American has missed the 3. Penn State last three seasons with three sepa26-6, 14-2 rate ACL injuries. The Nittany Lions have a Scoring has been the issue at ton of talent departing, but with Magtimes for Michigan State — the Penn State gie Lucas back for her senior season, Spartans averaged only 61.7, eighth in the Big Ten, last season — but With an infusion of youth, Penn State they feel they can maintain their staneeds Maggie Lucas to build upon her tus as the league's top dog. perhaps that will be markedly im- reigning Big Ten Player-of-the-Year Lucas, a preseason Wade Trophy proved now. And if the defense, status. nominee and the reigning Big Ten which allowed a conference-best Player-of-the-Year, has scored 1,838 52.1 points per game in 2012-13, remains, then Michipoints in her career, already the seventh-best in Penn gan State is the team to beat. State history. She averaged 20.1 points last season, hit2. Nebraska ting a conference-best 98 three-pointers and helping 25-9, 12-4 PSU average a league-best 73.6 points per game. But If anyone is set to unseat Michigan State, she'll need help this season from some new faces after it might be Nebraska. backcourt mate Alex Bentley, center Nikki Greene and Why? forward Mia Nickson all graduated. The trio combined Two words: Jordan Hooper. The senior forward (17.9 to average about 32 points and 19 rebounds per game, ppg, 8.8 rpg) is one of the best, if not the best, in the as they, with Lucas, were the key cogs in the Nittany Big Ten. A two-time honorable mention All-American Lions' back-to-back Big Ten regular-season championand All-Big Ten first-team selection, Hooper has scored ships the last two years. 1,685 points and has collected 811 rebounds in her Coach Coquese Washington will look to reload with three years with the Cornhuskers. Ariel Edwards (7.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg), a 6-3 senior post, and Hooper's sidekick, All-Big Ten point guard Lindsey fellow interior presence Talia East, who has 57 blocks Moore, has departed, but Connie Yori's team feels it in her career. has the pieces to compete for a championship. SophSenior Dara Taylor (7.0 ppg) might need to pick up omore guard Rachel Theriot, a 28-game starter and a scoring load this season, after she was on the Big Ten's member of the Big Ten All-Freshman last season, will All-Defensive team a year ago following a transfer from pick up more duties at the point. She'll have plenty of Maryland. experience around her, with fellow returning starters Penn State has seven — yes, seven — true freshEmily Cady (9.1 ppg, 7.9 rpg) and Hallie Sample (4.8 men on its roster, equaling the rest of its roster com- f IllustrateD volume 24, issue 2 93