Purdue Boilermakers
Overall Rank: #30
Conference Rank: #4 Big Ten
Purdue will look to build off their NCAA appearance from last season. The Boilermakers were able to make it to the tournament, but were handled pretty easily by Oklahoma in the first round. With Ashley Morrissette leading the way, Purdue will hope to make a bigger impact this time around. Morrissette, a senior guard, averaged 13.0 points per game last season and knocked down a team high 61 three-pointers. When Coach Sharon Versyp needs somebody to take a big shot this year, it will likely be Morrissette.
2015-16 Record: 20-12, 10-8
2015-16 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Sharon Versyp
Coach Record: 214-120 at Purdue, 331-185 overall
Key Departed Players (starters in bold)
April Wilson, Guard, 14.5 ppg
Torrie Thornton, Forward, 3.0 ppg
Hayden Hamby, Guard, 4.0 ppg
Key Returning Players (starters in bold)
Ashley Morrissette, Senior, Guard, 13.0 ppg
Bridget Perry, Senior, Forward, 10.5 ppg
Andreona Keys, Junior, Guard, 8.4 ppg
Dominique McBryde, Sophomore, Forward, 7.3 ppg
Bree Horrocks, Junior, Center, 4.4 ppg
Nora Kiesler, Sophomore, Center, 2.4 ppg
Tiara Murphy, Sophomore, Guard, 1.9 ppg
Key New Players
Lamina Cooper, Freshman, Guard
Miracle Cray, Freshman, Guard
Ae’Rianna Harris, Freshman, Forward
Dominique Oden, Freshman, Guard
Projection
Replacing point guard April Wilson, who averaged 14.5 points and 5.6 assists could take some time. Morrissette can pick up her scoring, but somebody needs to step into the starting point guard role. Andreona Keys is a big, tough 5-10 guard who attacks the basket extremely well. She was a regular starter last season and averaged 8.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists. Keys can handle the ball and that will help. Incoming freshman Dominique Oden is an option as well. Bridget Perry, Dominique McBryde and Bree Horrocks will fill most of the minutes in the frontcourt. Perry, who averaged 10.5 points and a team high 5.8 rebounds, is the player to watch. Freshman Ae’Rianna Harris should be able to make an impact in the frontcourt as well, especially on the defensive end of the court.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 67.3 (111th in nation, 12th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 61.5 (117, 3)
Field-Goal Percentage: 42.1 (73, 10)
Field-Goal Defense: 40.5 (213, 4)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 4.7 (235, 13)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 34.1 (49, 7)
Free-Throw Percentage: 73.9 (41, 4)
Rebound Margin: 1.7 (115, 4)
Assists Per Game: 15.6 (37, 7)
Turnovers Per Game: 14.5 (74, 8)
Madness 2016 Women’s Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#38 Ae'Rianna Harris
#100 Dominique Oden
