March 30, 2006

INDIANAPOLIS - Steve Novak scored 24 points in the final round against Notre Dame's Chris Quinn to take the 3-Point Shooutout at the 18th Annual Dell College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championship held at Hinkle Fieldhouse on the campus of Butler University.

Novak continued to get better in each of the rounds. He scored 19 points in the first round and 21 in the second round to advance to the finals.

Novak then met women's shootout champion Lindsay Bowen of Michigan State. Bowen defeated Krista Rappahahn of Stanford. Bowen's hot shooting continued in the co-ed final as she defeated Novak, 25-17.

I think that girls are better shooters overall," Novak joked after the loss. "I heard it wasn't close. She didn't miss, so how am I supposed to beat her. She made about 10 more than I did, so I give it to her."

David Noel of North Carolina defeated James White of Cincinnati in the Slam Dunk contest. One of the six judges in the Slam Dunk contest was Marquette head coach Tom Crean.