Duke’s VanGorp Helps to Root Out Scuttlebutt

Duke center Michele VanGorp was telling tales out of school Saturday about a former teammate.

The subject was Purdue All-American Stephanie White-McCarty. Someone asked VanGorp: “The wholesome, small-town image she projects, do you have any dirt on her at all? Anything?”

VanGorp: “She dyes her hair. You knew that, right?”

An hour later, dozens of TV cameramen and reporters descended on White-McCarty at Purdue’s media session, clamoring for confirmation or denial.

White-McCarty laughed, then confirmed.

“I’ve dyed my hair since junior high,” she said.

“If I didn’t, I’d be so gray.”

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Why did Nicole Erickson, from Brea Olinda High, go first to Purdue, then transfer to Duke? Were UCLA or USC ever in the picture?

“I wanted to go out of state,” she said.

“I made a visit to UCLA because my parents wanted me to, but I really wanted to go somewhere that was basketball-crazy. It just isn’t that way on the West Coast.”

Duke Coach Gail Goestenkors on Erickson:

“She has a great passion for the game. If she isn’t playing, then she’s watching a game. She’s the ultimate gym rat.”

Erickson: “Basketball is my release. If I’m having a bad day with my classes, I play. Basketball makes me feel good.”

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Duke sophomore Georgia Schweitzer, a premed major, indicated she’s as worried about summer school as she is about tonight’s game.

“I have to take organic chemistry,” she said. “It’s the most-failed class at Duke.”

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UCLA’s Maylana Martin made the 10-player Kodak All-American team, along with Tennessee players Chamique Holdsclaw (for the fourth time), Tamika Catchings and Semeka Randall.

The rest: Svetlana Abrosimova (Connecticut), Becky Hammon (Colorado State), Kelly Miller (Georgia), Amanda Wilson (Louisiana Tech), VanGorp and White-McCarty.

Kodak also named an all-time women’s All-American team: Ann Meyers (UCLA), Cheryl Miller (USC), Carol Blazejowski (Montclair State), Teresa Edwards (Georgia), Luisa Harris (Delta State), Holdsclaw, Nancy Lieberman (Old Dominion), Dawn Staley (Virginia), Sheryl Swoopes (Texas Tech) and Lynette Woodard (Kansas).

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Holdsclaw scored eight points to help the West beat the East, 70-44, in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Assn. all-star game Saturday night. Iowa’s Amy Herrig led the East with 15 points.

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The last time Purdue won a national basketball championship, John Wooden was in uniform.

It was 1932, by media vote. The last Purdue national championship in any sport was won by the 1961 men’s golf team.

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Since the AP women’s poll began in 1977, eight No. 1-ranked teams entering the NCAA tournament have won the championship. Purdue finished this regular season No. 1.