Indiana 63, No. 10 Purdue 61, OT

2/19/2006 4:19 PM

By STEVE HERMAN
AP Sports Writer

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - Cyndi Valentin made Indiana coach Sharon Versyp's emotional return to Mackey Arena a success.

Valentin hit a tying 3-pointer with 5 seconds left in regulation and a pair of free throws with 3 seconds to go in overtime, giving the Hoosiers a 63-61 upset of No. 10 Purdue on Sunday.

It was the first game back at Purdue as an opposing coach for Versyp, who played for the Boilermakers from 1985-88.

``Coming back to Purdue brought great memories,'' she said. ``This arena really gives me a lot of peace. I feel at home here, and I tried to exude that confidence to my players.''

It was the third straight overtime game between the two in-state rivals and snapped Purdue's six-game winning streak over the Hoosiers (15-10, 9-5 Big Ten).

``My emotions were stepping in last night,'' said Versyp, who left Purdue second in career points and assists. ``I never talked about it with my players, but they knew my background.

``I wish I was still playing now,'' she said.

Valentin led the Hoosiers with 25 points and overshadowed a career-high 32 by Purdue's Katie Gearlds.

A 3-pointer by Valentin gave Indiana a 50-47 lead late in regulation, but Gearlds brought the Boilermakers (21-4, 12-2) within one with a pair of free throws. Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton followed with two baskets for a 53-50 lead.

Purdue still led 55-52 after two free throws by Gearlds, but Valentin hit another 3-pointer on the run to send the game into overtime.

There were three more ties in the extra period, the last on a layup by Gearlds with 4 seconds left. But Valentin was fouled by Cherelle George on the inbounds play and sank the winning free throws.

``I think she was going for the ball and kind of got wrapped around me,'' Valentin said. ``This win is big. We've been close, and today we showed we can finish.''

Nikki Smith added 12 points for Indiana, all on 3-pointers. Wisdom-Hylton scored 14 for Purdue.

Purdue coach Kristy Curry took the blame for the loss, which dropped Purdue a half-game behind No. 6 Ohio State in the conference race. The Buckeyes take on No. 14 Michigan State on Monday night and then play the Boilermakers on Thursday.

``I told the kids, `Let's understand that coaches win close games,''' Curry said. ``I should have done a better job down the stretch - getting us to be more aggressive, getting us to get shots to go down. ... We were too passive.''

Curry called the last foul ``a poor decision, but it shouldn't have come down to that.''

Indiana used a 15-4 run to take a five-point lead midway through the opening period and widened its lead to 28-21 six minutes later, but it didn't last long.

The first of four 3-pointers by Gearlds started a 13-0 streak for the Boilermakers spanning halftime.

A steal by Gearlds and fast-break layup and a free throw by Aya Traore brought Purdue within one point with 2 minutes left in the first half. Gearlds' second 3-pointer a half-minute later put the Boilermakers back into the lead, and after an Indiana turnover, Wisdom-Hylton scored for a 32-28 lead at the break.

``They had a run, then we had a run and it was back and forth after that,'' Versyp said.

Valentin said the emotion surrounding Versyp's return was a factor in the Hoosiers' victory.

``But playing Purdue at Purdue is motivation enough,'' she said.