(Editor's note: Purdue senior Katie Douglas, a 1999-2000 Kodak All-American, has shared a weekly diary with ESPN.com throughout the season.)

March 19, 2001

	Katie Douglas led the Big Ten in scoring last season with a 20.4 average.

This was the wildest March Madness ever. We played UC Santa Barbara on Friday here at home and won 75-62. It was a tough game throughout, but we finally put it all together in the second half and came out with a win.

After the game, we directed our focus to LSU. In one of my entries earlier this year I wrote about our first game against LSU. We played in Indianapolis and it was the last time I was going to play in my hometown. The outcome was definitely not what I anticipated or wanted. The Tigers came back to beat us after we had a 16-point lead.

On Sunday, we tipped off at 9 p.m. and started off strong. We got on a run and were up by as much as 24 points. But LSU didn't give up, and in the second half we went cold. LSU kept pushing and cut the lead to one with 32 seconds left.

I got fouled with 2.5 seconds left and had to shoot free throws. I think that night was the first time in my life I felt like I was going to get sick. I was so nervous and flashbacks from December's game and last year's tourney were going through my mind. I plugged my ears in order to keep those thoughts from entering my mind and instead thought about the countless times that I've hit free throws. I think I'd rather hit a game-winning shot than be at the free-throw line. But I hit both, and on the ensuing play LSU turned it over. We won 73-70.

	BOILERS IN THE BIG DANCE
	Make sure to check out Purdue's team page in ESPN.com's complete coverage of the NCAA Tournament. Then be sure to read the other player diaries from ESPN.com and FANSonly.com: Duke's Georgia Schweitzer Washington's Loree Payne Arizona State's Liz Paulson

I think we might have given our fans a collective heart attack. I can't say enough about our fans this year and this weekend. They have definitely been the difference for our team. Thank you everyone for supporting our team -- y'all are the best. That was the last time I played in Mackey Arena, and you were great the whole time.

Besides basketball, the remainder of my spring break consisted of taking many naps. We got to sleep in all week and then practice in the afternoons. After that we usually went out to eat as a team, and then it was back to the apartment.

I had such big goals for spring break and didn't accomplish one of them. It is pretty bad -- I had a list and everything. All I did was watch TV (mainly college basketball games) and sleep. I guess I am well rested, even though I am pretty tired today. Nothing exciting happened over spring break. It is nice to be on campus, though, without all of the people because it is quiet and there isn't a lot of traffic.

Well, I am about to go and start knocking out some of those things on my to-do list. Right now I am regretting all of those naps I took last week because I want to sleep but can't. Oh well. Hope to tell y'all some good news next week from Birmingham. Until then, the madness continues.

KT