PURDUE SOPHOMORE SAMANTHA WOODS TO REDSHIRT THIS SEASON

November 18, 2008 WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue head women's basketball coach Sharon Versyp announced Tuesday that sophomore forward Samantha Woods will redshirt this season. The 6-foot-3 Bolingbrook, Ill., native is majoring in chemical engineering and will use the year to focus on her academic requirements. "We feel it is in her best interest for Samantha Woods to redshirt this season," Versyp said. "It is a decision that Sam is completely on board with. She is in a very challenging major, chemical engineering, and her class schedule has several conflicts with our practice times. Since classes come first, she misses a significant amount of practice. Sam switched to chemical engineering in the offseason and because she will be here for five years to complete her degree, this redshirt will allow her to be even more successful in the classroom. For basketball it allows her to mature as a player and helps relieve the pressure of a tough academic track. This is a great situation for Sam, for her academics and for her future." As a freshman last season, Woods played in 26 games, starting two. She averaged 10.2 minutes, 2.9 points and 1.9 rebounds a game and recorded season highs for points and rebounds in her college debut with 17 points and seven rebounds against Valparaiso. This was the complete media release. Purdue's team website can be found by clicking here.