REC CENTER (Jan. 27, 2007) – It was a day full of first time events at Purdue University Calumet this season and in the history of the 60-year-old institution. Four Lady Peregrines scored double digits en route to a 68-53 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference win against Illinois Institute of Technology sending the homecoming crowd home happy.Former Lady Laker star Lee Ann DeYoung-Slowik, 1984-88, was honored at halftime with the retirement of her uniform, No. 14. She is the first PUC athlete to have her jersey retired. Also, Rick Riddering, assistant vice chancellor for student development and outreach, won the PUC fight song contest. The school never had a fight song supporting the Hammond campus and its athletic teams.

For the first time this season, four Lady Peregrines carried the offensive load scoring double figures. Senior co-captain Jessica Hamman (Highland), who normally wears No. 50, switched her number to 5 and finished as the team’s leading scorer with 17 points, her highest total of the season. Hamman was 6-of-12 from the field and 5-of-6 from the foul line. The 6-0 center also finished with four rebounds, four steals and three shot blocks. She ranks sixth in the CCAC with eight rebounds per game in conference action.

Junior Linsey Smith (Lake Central) was 6-of-11, 55 percent, from the field and perfect from the charity stripe scoring 15 points. Smith has the second highest free throw shooting percentage in the CCAC at 83 percent. She leads the team with 11.4 points per game.

Freshman Sara Keilman (Morton) scored a season high 14 points shooting 70 percent from the field. The 6-1 forward also grabbed five rebounds and dished out three assists in 39 minutes of action. Off the bench, junior Krystal Rigoni (Portage) popped in 10 points, collected five rebounds and had four assists. Junior co-captain Shannon Dugan (Mother McAuley) had a season high 11 assists and scored seven points and had three steals in the victory.

The Lady Peregrines (5-15 overall, 1-4 CCAC) held a 14-point lead at the half, 37-23. Much of the lead came from 18 points scored off turnovers in the opening half. Hamman’s success in the paint helped the Lady Peregrines to a 32-24 advantage on points scored in the lane. For the second time in three games, the offense shot 50 percent or higher in both halves and finished shooting 52 percent for the game. On defense, the Lady Peregrines forced 23 turnovers and were credited with 11 team steals.

The Lady Peregrines play the University of St. Francis’ Lady Saints (12-11, 3-2) Tuesday in Joliet at 7:30 p.m. in a CCAC game. Thursday, the Lady Peregrines host Moody Bible Institute at 6 p.m.