New Mexico Falls To Purdue In First Round Of NCAA Tournament, 68-56
March 20, 2005
By COLIN FLY
Associated Press Writer
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Purdue’s 16 wins were the fewest for an at-largeteam in the NCAA tournament. No matter, the Boilermakers belong in postseasonplay.
Erin Lawless had 22 points and No. 9 seed Purdue used its height advantageto defeat eighth-seeded New Mexico 68-56 on Sunday night in the first round ofthe Philadelphia Regional.
The Boilermakers (17-12) will play the winner of Tennessee-Western Carolinain the second round on Tuesday.
Trailing by one midway through the second half, Purdue went on a 13-2 runthat included five points by Lawless and a 3-pointer by Katie Gearlds to makeit 55-45 with 6:26 to play.
New Mexico’s Mandi Moore, who finished with 18, made a layup and a 3-pointerto make it 55-50. But Purdue answered with eight straight points as theBoilermakers took a 63-50 lead off consecutive baskets by Lindsay Wisdom-Hyltonwith 3:04 left to seal the victory.
Wisdom-Hylton finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Gearlds scored16 points.
The difference in the teams’ style of play was never more apparent than atthe free throw line. Purdue went 15-of-21, while New Mexico’s first attempt wastaken with 2:38 left in the game. The Lobos finished 2-of-2.
New Mexico (26-5), making its fourth straight NCAA appearance, felt itdeserved a higher seed after winning the Mountain West Conference and finishingseven votes shy of the Top 25.
But the Lobos couldn’t handle Purdue’s height advantage. New Mexico mixedtraps and zone defenses, but it only slowed the Boilermakers’ ability to scoreinside.
In one sequence, the 6-foot-2 Lawless found Wisdom-Hylton on the baselinefor an easy basket. On Purdue’s next possession, the 6-2 Wisdom-Hylton made asimilar pass to Gearlds to cap a 10-0 run in the first half.
Moore kept New Mexico close throughout, and Judy Vogt’s bank shot justbefore the buzzer tied it at 29 at the half.
It’s the first year that Purdue coach Kristy Curry hasn’t won at least 20games in her six seasons. Purdue, appearing in the tournament for the 12thstraight year, would have to make the Final Four to keep Curry’s streak alive.
Only Illinois State, a No. 15 seed eliminated Saturday, had fewer wins (13)than the Boilermakers to begin the NCAA tournament.