• Lamina Cooper's status is uncertain.
The junior-to-be missed two portions of the season, including to end the year, with an undisclosed illness.
Sharon Versyp said Thursday that Purdue will know in the summer whether Cooper, Purdue's best wing defender and a double-figure scorer, will be back.
"Absolutely, we'd welcome her back with open arms," Versyp said. "She just needs to get healthy. If that happens, fantastic."
• Purdue is looking for immediate help, either with fifth-year or transfers.
Versyp said she's looking for a 3/4 position as a fifth-year grad transfer. One option might be Cleveland State's Ashanti Abshaw, a two-time Horizon League first-team member. The 5-9 forward averaged 18.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game last season. Abshaw has a tie to Purdue's coaching staff, having played for assistant Beth Couture for a season at Cleveland State, where she was associate head coach in 2015-16.
Also, Purdue hosted Florida transfer Mikayla Hayes for a visit. The 6-2 forward, a Minnesota native, signed with the Gators as part of their 2016 recruiting class, which included Karissa McLaughlin. But after Florida's coaching change, McLaughlin was granted her release while Hayes played her freshman year at Florida, averaging two points and about 1.9 rebounds in 10 minutes per game. She would likely have to sit out a season after transfer, although she might try to build an argument for a hardship waiver.
"We're hoping to get two more pieces to the puzzle," Versyp said. "So then our numbers, with two walk-ons, would be 15 or 16."
The junior-to-be missed two portions of the season, including to end the year, with an undisclosed illness.
Sharon Versyp said Thursday that Purdue will know in the summer whether Cooper, Purdue's best wing defender and a double-figure scorer, will be back.
"Absolutely, we'd welcome her back with open arms," Versyp said. "She just needs to get healthy. If that happens, fantastic."
• Purdue is looking for immediate help, either with fifth-year or transfers.
Versyp said she's looking for a 3/4 position as a fifth-year grad transfer. One option might be Cleveland State's Ashanti Abshaw, a two-time Horizon League first-team member. The 5-9 forward averaged 18.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game last season. Abshaw has a tie to Purdue's coaching staff, having played for assistant Beth Couture for a season at Cleveland State, where she was associate head coach in 2015-16.
Also, Purdue hosted Florida transfer Mikayla Hayes for a visit. The 6-2 forward, a Minnesota native, signed with the Gators as part of their 2016 recruiting class, which included Karissa McLaughlin. But after Florida's coaching change, McLaughlin was granted her release while Hayes played her freshman year at Florida, averaging two points and about 1.9 rebounds in 10 minutes per game. She would likely have to sit out a season after transfer, although she might try to build an argument for a hardship waiver.
"We're hoping to get two more pieces to the puzzle," Versyp said. "So then our numbers, with two walk-ons, would be 15 or 16."