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Gold and Black Illustrated, Vol 28, Digital 2

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GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 28, ISSUE 2 74 the three-point line but you also can't let them drive. Having the pull-up gets you between defenders and that's a really good thing." McLaughlin can score, too — "She can flat-out shoot," Versyp said — and Murphy has the capabili- ty, as well, although she's not been able to consistently show it as of yet. "We have people who can handle the ball, can see the floor and know basketball," Oden said, "and that's just a really good thing, and I appreciate that. Even with losing Ashley, who goes like (a million) mph, we still have people on the court who can read the floor and pass it up just as fast as Ashley could get down the court by herself." Purdue will lean heavily on Keys at the wing, as it's done for a few years now. The senior enters her fourth year as a starter for the Boilermakers, having proven she can do whatever is needed on the floor. The 5-10 Atlanta native is a physical defender, which allows her to match up on the perimeter or inside, and she can re- bound (6.1 per game last season) and score (9.8 points per game) when needed. Cooper could add more quickness to the wing, as she showed at points last season. The long, lanky wing had 19 steals in only 16 minutes per game, while also showing an ability to score (4.1 points) and rebound (2.7 rebounds). She'll get reserve minutes on the wing and in the backcourt, too, perhaps even at the point, Versyp said. Freshman Tamara Farquhar also could play on the perimeter, and likely that'll be her position long-term, but it won't be, at least primarily, this season. On Purdue's official roster, it lists only four post play- ers: Two centers and two forwards. Versyp plans to bol- ster her inside depth by using Farquhar at the 4, similar to what she did with Perry the last couple seasons. Farquhar is undersized, listed only at 6-foot, but her athleticism might allow her to play bigger than many anticipate. Purdue's hoping she can play in the post, using her quickness and agility to defend and rebound. "Everybody said I could jump out of the gym, just wait 'til they see Tam," said Harris, who set Purdue's blocks record as a freshman. The Boilermakers are hopeful Farquhar and fellow rookie Dani Lawson can combine to lock down the po- BY THE NUMBERS 2 Games this season vs. teams that finished in the final 2016-17 Associated Press poll, as Purdue plays Maryland (fourth) and Ohio State (11th) only once each, on back-to-back dates on the road Feb. 15 and 18. 50 Career starts made by returnees, excluding the 77 by senior Andreona Keys, illustrating Purdue's youth this season. Of the 50, sophomore Dominique Oden has made 33, followed by Ae'Rianna Harris' 14, Tiara Murphy's two and Nora Kiesler's one. 5 Indiana Miss Basketball Award winners who have played at Purdue under Sharon Versyp, the latest being Fort Wayne's Karissa McLaughlin. The list also includes Courtney Moses, Brittany Rayburn, Jodi Howell and Katie Gearlds. Versyp was Miss Basketball in 1984. 23 Wins last sea- son, Purdue's most since 2012-13, the second of two consecutive 25- win campaigns by the Boilermakers. Sharon Versyp, who has a pro- gram-record 237 wins at Purdue, has led her alma mater to 20-win seasons in eight of her 11 years.

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