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Nightmare In Louisville Losing at Louisville didn't sit well with KK Houser. The defeat ended Purdue's season in the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the third-straight season this past March. And Houser had reason to take the loss hard; she scored 10 points but on only 4-of-17 shooting and had nine turnovers. Meanwhile, Louisville's guards took over when Purdue's couldn't, pushing the Cardinals not only into the regionals but all the way to the NCAA Championship game. "It was a horrible game to end on," Houser said. "It was worse I think than the South Carolina game (the year before). And going against Shoni Schimmel and Bria Smith, some of the top guards, I knew where I needed to be to put myself in position for this year." Houser's responded by playing the best she's ever played, averaging 14.8 points, 4.9 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game through the first third of the season. But more than individual numbers, Houser feels like Purdue's seniors have legacy on the line. She, Courtney Moses and Dee Dee Williams have won two Big Ten Tournament titles over the years, yet NCAA success has been harder to come by. "(The Big Ten Tournament titles) are nice, but we'd like to get further," Houser said. "And we're always getting cut off at the second round and all three of us are bitter about it. So it's like we would do anything for the team to get past that second game this year." — Kyle Charters But she's been involved in other ways, too, averaging a career-high 4.9 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game through the first 10 games, while totaling a team-high 25 steals. When Purdue's needed a bucket, or a big play, she usually ends up with the ball in her hands, either on the wing or back running the point. "I've noticed during the close games, April will be like 'OK, go get the ball,'" Houser said. "It feels good that during crunch time, the ball needs to be in my hands. I like that feeling. But April has done a great job at the point. Hats off to her, she is setting everyone up well and getting the ball to where it needs to go and really setting us up with good scoring positions." It's a move that's working well for all parties. "She's one of our best finishers," Wilson said of Houser. "I love giving her the ball, because I know I'm going to get an assist from her. She sets up on screens well and gets up and does what she needs to do." j the wings, Purdue is averaging 72.9 points, up five points per game from a season ago. Wilson is playing well, too, averaging 1.9 assists per turnover and 7.9 points per game. "KK's always been the energy and little bus behind our team," Moses said. "She's played well. The thing is being a senior and having a sense of urgency. … She was in the gym a lot and she's very confident. And I think her confidence is a reason why she's playing at the level she is." Houser certainly doesn't lack for that. She's continued to attack opponents this season, even when her shot's not falling; and that's happened occasionally, with her shooting at only a 33-percent rate. f IllustrateD volume 24, issue 3 77