Carol, a 6'1" forward from Nappanee, Indiana, has played 23 games before the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapois and owns a 0.8 point per game and 2.0 rebound per game average, coming with around eight-and-a-half minutes of plaing time per game. To learn more about Carol, go to her bio page at the official Purdue Web site:

Carol Duncan Profile

OGFP: What is the earliest memory you have of yourself with a basketball?

Duncan: When I was a little girl, I think around seven, my Uncle James bought me a mini-basketball hoop. You know, one of those kiddie hoops that are plastic and only go to about 5 feet tall. It was one of the best presents I have ever gotten. I was also able to show off to my family the follow-through that my father had taught me.

OGFP: What were the names and nicknames of all your basketball teams, from the earliest levels of competition through high school (including AAU and junior college)?

Duncan: When I was in 5th and 6th grade I played in the Black Swish league. 7th grade I played for my middle school team and we were the NorthWood Middle School Panthers. In 8th grade I lived in Lima, Ohio, and played for Bath Middle School and we were nicknamed the Wildcats. That was also the first year I played AAU, and that was the Lima All Stars. 9th-12th grade I played for NorthWood High School and we were the Panthers. I played randomly for two AAU teams. One was MBA and the other was the Indiana Storm.

OGFP: How did you prepare for the 2004-2005 basketball season, when school wasn't in session?

Duncan: I went home for the summer and that enabled me to focus more on basketball once school came into session. While I was home I played a lot of pick up games and worked on shooting.

OGFP: Which college basketball rule would you erase from the books?

Duncan: The kicked ball rule. If they didn't erase it, then they could at least get rid of resetting the shot clock.

OGFP: Aside from the competition, what is the best thing about being an NCAA Divison I athlete?

Duncan: Traveling. We are very fortunate at Purdue to travel to the places that we do and to be able to fly the majority of the time. I have seen a lot of the country that I would not have seen otherwise.

OGFP: How would you describe Purdue women's basketball in a single sentence?

Duncan: To play at Purdue you need Heart, Dedication, Discipline, and a Positive Attitude.

OGFP: True or False: Defense is more enjoyable than offense.

Duncan: False. But Defense is a necessity that you have to learn to enjoy.

OGFP: What has been the biggest challenge in going from being an underclassmen to an upperclassmen?

Duncan: Taking on a leadership role that we did not have in the past as underclassmen.

OGFP: What has been the biggest highlight of your time at Purdue?

Duncan: The experience and expectations entering and winning the last two Big Ten Tournament Championships.

OGFP: What Big Ten arena has been the most difficult to play in?

Duncan: Penn State or Minnesota and the Barn

OGFP: True or False: Players can feed off the energy of the crowd.

Duncan: True. It's nice to have a home crowd, but we also feed from the energy of away crowds.

A 6' center from Palos Hills, Illinois, Emily again leads the Boilermakers in rebounds to the tune of 6.4 per game. She adds 5.3 points per game and has contributed 21 blocks and 42 steals to her season resume. She has started every game for the Boilermakers this year and last and has clinched a spot in the top-10 career rebounds list in the school record books. To learn more about Emily, visit her bio page on the official Purdue Web site:

Emily Heikes Profile

OGFP: What is the earliest memory you have of yourself with a basketball?

Heikes: Playing with my brothers in the driveway of our house.

OGFP: What were the names and nicknames of all your basketball teams, from the earliest levels of competition through high school (including AAU and junior college)?

Heikes: Starting from 4th grade: Bulls, Hornets. Jr. High: Cardinals. High School: Chargers. AAU: Illinois Hoopla.

OGFP: How did you prepare for the 2004-2005 basketball season, when school wasn't in session?

Heikes: Open gyms, a lot of conditioning, and weights.

OGFP: Which college basketball rule would you erase from the books?

Heikes: Fouling out!

OGFP: Aside from the competition, what is the best thing about being an NCAA Division I athlete?

Heikes: Being able to travel and experience different places.

OGFP: How would you describe Purdue women's basketball in a single sentence?

Heikes: It is a well-respected program with a lot of talent.

OGFP: True or False: Defense is more enjoyable than offense.

Heikes: True.

8) Can you believe it's your final year in the Old Gold and Black?

Heikes: No. It feels like just yesterday I was an innocent freshman, naive to the pressures of college life and athletics.

OGFP: How do you want Purdue fans to remember you after this season has ended?

Heikes: A spark on the floor, hard-nosed and competitive.

OGFP: What has being a Boilermaker meant to you?

Heikes: It has taught me that success is something that you fight for. You have to believe in it and you have to practice every day like it's your last.

OGFP: True or False: You will cry in Mackey Arena on Senior Night.

Heikes: False, but it will be a special night.

Thanks to Kathleen Offer for making these Q&As possible.