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ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 25, ISSUE 3 33 f couldn't put together a complete game. Its first might have been the last, a 70-44 win over Wright State to win the Basketball Travelers on Sunday in Mackey Arena. The Boilermakers scored 70 in regula- tion for the first time all season, but also held the Raiders in check, allowing them to shoot only 22 percent from the field. Purdue held a rebounding advantage, slight, and had only 15 turnovers, plus a dozen blocks. "(This) showed what we're capable of doing," Versyp said. "It's the best basketball that we've played defen- sively and offensively. … You could tell we had fun and that's what it's all about." But the Boilermakers had not put together 40 minutes of solid basketball previously. Bad first halves, that result- ed in significant deficits, were costly in losses to Green Bay (down 8-2 to start); Florida State (down 10-3); and Dayton (down 7-0). In each of the three, Purdue rallied, taking Green Bay and Florida State to overtime before losing. And missing three shots at Dayton that would have given the Boil- ermakers the lead in the final minutes; but the Flyers held on. Still, Versyp felt good about her team, because it showed the ability to bounce back. "I like their fight, their resilience," she said. "They hate to lose, they're not happy about any of that. They bounce back. I haven't really seen them feel sorry for themselves. It's tough not to some- times, but self-pity will just destroy you as a group. Again, they turn around and come back and practice well. We've never not come around and not gone back to work." Purdue, too, had a solid schedule strength in those first seven games, ranking second in the country. The reason was largely the success of the opponents: As of Dec. 22, Florida State was 11-1; Green Bay 9-2; Texas Tech 9-2; George Washington 9-2; Dayton 7-3; and Toledo 6-4. SHOOTING LAGS BEHIND Purdue wasn't expected to be a good shooting team this season, and it hasn't been. In the non-conference, the Boilermakers shot only 39.1 percent from the field, last in the Big Ten (by a full 2 percent), with a three-point percentage of 31.3, tied for eighth in the league. Only three Boilermakers are shooting better than 45 percent: Bree Horrocks (53.3), Liza Clemons (45.8) and Andreona Keys (45.8). But Purdue's primary 2 guards — Ashley Morrissette and Hayden Hamby — have made less than 36 percent of their field goal attempts, and have combined to make only 24 of their 78 three-pointers (31 percent). Versyp has taken the approach that Purdue's shooting will improve. And in two of the three games at the Basket- ball Travelers, the Boilermakers were above 42 percent. "Our offense will come," Versyp said. "But it's about Tom Campbell Purdue lost a few close ones in the non-conference, including to Green Bay, who escaped Mackey Arena in double overtime.