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school junior. She did, especially this season. The 6-foot-2 forward has aver- aged team highs of 14.8 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, the latter of which would be the second- best all-time at Purdue. Her career mark for rebounds, an average of 9.1 per game, will shatter the pre- vious program record of 7.4 set by Cathey Tyree from 1984-87. Plus, Bays has 14 double-dou- bles this season, setting a Purdue single-season mark, and her 22 in two years as a Boilermaker is third all-time. "With all her double-doubles and the things that she's done, she'll leave herself in the record book," Versyp said. "She was part of the Big Ten championship (while sitting out as a transfer), but didn't get to be totally a part, which is tough for a kid." But Bays was part of Purdue's run to the NCAA Tournament last season, and might have been the best player on the court in its two games there in Mackey Arena. In the second, the Big Ten's Sixth Player-of-the-Year nearly got the Boilermakers to the Sweet 16, with a 21-point, 13-rebound effort in a loss to Oklahoma State. "She's a fighter, literally a fight - er," Clemons said. "She's battled through everything from her life situations off the court, on the court. She's an inspiration. She might look up to me, but I look up to her as well. And I feel like we re- late to each other. It's been great playing with her, but it's not the end of our friendship." Bays has had great games this season, twice scoring a career-high 27 points and having nine consec- utive double-doubles. "My time here has been great," she said. "Obviously this season hasn't been going the way you'd want your senior year to be. But I still have hope that we can do big things in the (Big Ten) Tournament and finish the season out strong." LIZA CLEMONS Clemons endured tremendous personal loss a year-and-a-half ago, when her fiancé, Jay Upshaw, was murdered outside an apartment in their hometown of Fort Wayne. Clemons had briefly left the scene, just before the still-unsolved incident, but returned to find cha- os. But in the months that followed, she pushed through, playing her junior season in memory of her longtime boyfriend. Her Purdue family certainly helped. "I definitely believe that," the 6-2 forward said. "Life has thrown things at me that I couldn't dodge. Definitely being here with my coaches, my teammates and being away from my family — not far, but away — they've been my second family to help me through things when I've needed to talk. "Coach has been there for me. After class, I'd be like 'Coach, I need to talk' and I'd just sit on her couch and cry and she'd talk to me. It's been one crazy experience, but I wouldn't want to go through it with anyone else." Clemons has been a two-year starter for the Boilermakers and will finish with more than 600 points, 400 rebounds, 100 assists and near 100 blocks. "Liza has been part of champi - onships here, has done a lot, this is probably a different type of season for all of us, but you shouldn't be defined by just one season," Ver- syp said. "Her four years here were amazing. All the personal trials and tribulations she went through, she can walk away with her head held high." Clemons says it's hard to be- lieve her career at Purdue is nearly over. She was warned, she said, by former teammate KK Houser be- fore the season, when Houser told her that the year would be over too quickly. "In a blink of an eye it'll be over," Clemons said. "And that's literally what happens. It went by way too fast." Games remain, at Michigan on Tuesday night, then senior day vs. MSU. The Big Ten Tournament starts next week. "It'll definitely be emotional," Bays said of the last game in Mack- ey, "but I think when we're on the court, we'll be trying to take care of business. We've both gone through life experiences and grown closer. It's always fun to play with her, she has the same passion as me. It's go- ing to be fun." j Tom Campbell Liza Clemons has been at her best down the stretch this season, including a 15-rebound effort vs. Illinois. For daily headlines on recruiting and other Purdue sports news, check out GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 22 • 17