Women's Basketball at Ninth-Ranked Minnesota Thursday
12/2/2003 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Creighton at #9 Minnesota
December 4, 2003 • 7:00 p.m.
Williams Arena • Minneapolis, Minn.
Scouting the Bluejays
Creighton is coming off a weekend split at the Duke Classic in Durham, N.C. The Jays lost a tight game to 25th-ranked Auburn and then crushed Stephen F. Austin. Dayna Finch was named to the all-tournament team, averaging 16.5 points per game and draining nine three-pointers in CU’s two games. On the season, Finch tops the team with 17.7 points per game, while shooting 48.4 percent from three-point range. All-America candidate Christy Neneman is averaging 10.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per contest. Laura Spanheimer (14.0) and Angie Janis (12.5) are also contributing double figure scoring outputs. CU is averaging eight three-point field goals per game on 26 attempts from beyond the arc per contest. The Jays are out-rebounding their opponents, including out-working the opposition 64-29 on the offensive glass.
Scouting the Golden Gophers
Minnesota is undefeated and ranked ninth in this week’s AP poll, having won its first five games by an average score of 86.6 to 57.0. The Golden Gophers are led by All-American and National Player of the Year candidate Lindsay Whalen. The guard is averaging 19.4 points and five assists per game while shooting 65 percent from the floor. Center Janel McCarville contributes 18.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, while adding 11 blocks and 12 steals to lead the team. Shannon Schonrock provides an outside threat, sinking 58 percent of her three-pointers this year and averaging 12.2 points per game. The Gophers defeated MVC foe Drake, 73-50 on Nov. 15 at Drake.
The Bluejay-Golden Gopher Series
Creighton and Minnesota have not met since 1979, and the Golden Gophers have won both meetings between the programs. The teams played in Minneapolis in 1977 and 1979 with the Gophers coming away with 70-53 and 92-58 wins, respectively.
The Coaches
Jim Flanery (Creighton, 1987) became the winningest rookie coach in school and MVC history last year with a 24-9 record in his first season at the helm. Prior to taking his first head coaching job last year, he served as CU’s top assistant for the previous 10 years, when the Jays compiled a 170-115 record. Pam Borton (Defiance College, 1987), is in her second season at Minnesota, where she owns a 30-6 record. Borton is 99-52 in her sixth season as a head coach.
Finch Named All-Tournament
Senior Dayna Finch was named to the Duke Classic All-Tournament Team last weekend after averaging 16.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.5 steals per contest. She also sank 9-of-21 three-point field goals over the weekend. The guard scored 15 first-half points against No. 25 Auburn last Saturday, then led all players with 18 points in CU’s 91-64 win over Stephen F. Austin on Sunday.
Duke Classic All-Tournament Team
Alana Beard (MVP) - Duke
Iciss Tillis - Duke
Monique Currie - Duke
Le’Coe Willingham - Auburn
Dayna Finch - Creighton
Against the Big Ten
Including an opening day loss to Northwestern this season, Creighton has played against Big Ten opponents on 10 occasions since the 1992-93 season, owning a 5-5 record in that span. CU defeated Iowa twice last season, including ending the Hawkeyes year in the WNIT Quarterfinals. CU has Big Ten foes Michigan and Iowa remaining on its 2003-04 non-conference schedule.
Creighton vs. Big Ten since 1992-93
at Northwestern, L, 41-59, 11-21-03
at Iowa, W, 70-64, 3-25-03
vs. Iowa, W, 89-82, 12-8-02
at Michigan, L, 66-75, 11-22-02
at Iowa, L, 43-86, 12-15-01
vs. Northwestern, W, 88-58, 12-10-00
at Northwestern, W, 64-53, 12-21-99
vs. Illinois, L, 71-87, 12-6-96
vs. Iowa, L, 41-68, 11-29-95
at Iowa, W, 63-53, 12-8-94
Minnesota Homecoming
Creighton sophomore Christy Erickson is a graduate of Wayzata High School and calls Plymouth, Minn., home. After redshirting her first season and being used sparingly last year, the 6-1 forward has worked herself into the CU rotation and led the Jays with a career high six rebounds against No. 25 Auburn last Saturday. She then added a career best nine points against Stephen F. Austin last Sunday.
Quality, Not Quantity
Amy Hoffman proved she doesn't need many minutes in order to be productive last Sunday against Stephen F. Austin. The sophomore center led all players with a career-tying seven rebounds in just 11 minutes of play. She also scored nine points, making 5-of-5 free throws to establish career highs from the charity stripe. Hoffman also contributed a block and steal. Fellow sophomore Angie Janis added 14 points, making 7-of-8 free-throws in only 15 minutes of work against SFA last Sunday.
Battling the Best
With its loss to Auburn last Saturday, Creighton has now lost eight consecutive games against Top 25 opponents and is 2-12 against the Top 25 since the 1998-99 season. CU’s last win against a ranked foe came on Dec. 7, 1999 when the Jays defeated 14th-ranked Kansas in Omaha, 55-54. CU’s last road victory over a ranked opponent came Jan. 2, 1999, a 67-64 win at No. 25 SMS in Springfield, Mo. CU led 25th-ranked Auburn, 46-39, at the half last Saturday, but could not hold on for a Top-25 victory.
Strong Schedule
Creighton’s non-conference schedule includes three Top-25 teams in Auburn, Minnesota and Kansas State. CU plays four Big Ten teams and two from the Big 12, while playing eight of their nine non-conference games away from home.
On the Offensive (Glass)
In each of CU’s first four games this season, the Bluejays have held the advantage over their opponents in offensive rebounding. On the season the Jays have pulled down 64 offensive boards, to just 29 by the opposition.
Offensive Rebounds
Opponent CU Opp. Diff.
Northwestern 16 2 +14
UMKC 20 7 +13
#25 Auburn 8 7 +1
Stephen F. Austin 20 13 +7
Totals 64 29 +35
Finch Continues Climb
Dayna Finch now ranks eighth in Missouri Valley Conference history with 211 career three-point field goals. Her fourth three-point field goal of the season gave her 200 career three-pointers. She is just the second Bluejay to accomplish the feat and only the 11th player in MVC history to do so.
Almost Home
After its game at Minnesota on Thursday, the Bluejays will finally open their regular-season home schedule with a Sunday afternoon contest against Michigan. The Jays played their first five regular-season games on the road and after Sunday’s game with Michigan the Jays will return to the road for their next five contests.
Creighton’s Crime Family
A Spanheimer has led the Bluejays in steals for six consecutive seasons (Krissie, 1997-2001, Laura, 2001-03). Current Bluejay, Laura, surpassed older sister, Krissie, last weekend for career steals. Laura now has 179 swipes to rank eighth at CU, while Krissie notched 173 in her CU career (9th place).
Energizer Bluejay Gets a Rest
For the first time in eight games, junior Laura Spanheimer did not play 40 minutes in CU’s win over Stephen F. Austin last Sunday. Spanny had played all 40 minutes for seven consecutive games and 11 times in the last 13 games dating back to last season.
Another Streak Snapped
Along with her minutes played streak, Laura Spanheimer had another streak snapped in Sunday’s win over Stephen F. Austin. With nine points in the game, Spanheimer failed to reach double figures in points for the first time in nine games dating back to last year. The eight consecutive double figure scoring games was a career best streak.
Rookie Notes
Freshman Deanna Castro made her collegiate debut against Stephen F. Austin last Sunday, playing seven minutes in the game. Castro logged a steal and rebound in her first appearance. Fellow rookie Lucy Lapito sank her first career field goal in the same game, a three-pointer.
AJ’s Career Day
Angie Janis had a career day in CU’s win at UMKC on Nov. 23. The sophomore established career highs with 26 points, 10 field goals made and six free throws made in six attempts. She also pulled down 10 rebounds to record her third career double-double. Janis did all of her damage in only 27 minutes.
Hilde’s Highs
Senior Sara Hildebrand played a career-high 18 minutes in CU’s win over UMKC on Nov. 30. She also established a career best with four assists in the game, surpassing her entire 2002-03 total in assists.
Finch & Spanheimer Return
Dayna Finch and Laura Spanheimer were unable to play in Creighton’s season-opener against Northwestern due to NCAA rules infractions (participating in one game of an unsanctioned summer league). The two combined for 54 percent of the Bluejays’ three-point field goals, 37 percent of steals and 29 percent of CU’s offense in 2002-03.
Few Minutes, Many Blocks
Sophomore Amy Hoffman has continued a trend this year which she started as a rookie. The reserve center has three blocks this year in just 9.5 minutes per game. Last year she blocked 17 shots, while averaging just over eight minutes per game for an average of one block for every 12 minutes she played.
On the Road Again and Again ...
Of Creighton’s first 11 games this year, 10 contests will be played on the road. CU’s lone non-conference home game is Dec. 7, when CU welcomes Michigan to the Omaha Civic Auditorium.
New Birds
Creighton has signed two players to letters of intent for the 2004-05 season. Sara Cain, 6-1, Forward, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Prairie) and Ally Thrall, 5-6, Guard, West Des Moines, Iowa (Dowling).
Preseason Polls
The Bluejays have been tabbed for a second place finish in the MVC according to the league’s media, sports information directors and head coaches. The Jays received 12 of 40 first-place votes, trailing 2002-03 MVC Tournament Champion Southwest Missouri State. The Lady Bears tallied 27 first-place votes.
Home Court Dominance
Creighton’s loss in the WNIT Semifinals last March 31 snapped the nation’s second longest home winning streak at 23 games. Even with that loss, the Bluejays are 24-2 at home over the last two seasons and 34-6 in Omaha since the beginning of the 2000-01 season.
Record Attendance Figures
Women’s basketball has established home attendance records the last two years, averaging 1,861 fans in 2002-03 (1,339 in 2001-02). A record 4,439 fans attended the WNIT Semifinal game against Auburn last March and 10 of the top 15 single-game attendance figures have come since 2001.
CU’s Civic Duty
The women’s basketball team will be able to claim the Omaha Civic Auditorium as its homecourt for every home contest in the 2003-04 season. In recent years the Jays have been forced to play a few games per season at local high schools due to scheduling conflicts.
Local Talent Excels
Four Bluejays on the 2003-04 squad call the Omaha Metro area home; Christy Neneman (North), Laura Spanheimer (Marian), Angie Janis (Millard North), Kristi Woodard (Bellevue West). Both Neneman and Spanheimer have earned all-conference recognition each year of their Bluejay careers. Woodard was tabbed to the MVC All-Freshman Team as a rookie last year and Janis averaged 11 points and 7.3 rebounds per WNIT game last year.
Back-to-Back ... to-Back
The Jays have won consecutive MVC regular-season titles heading into the 2003-04 season and will be looking for a three-peat this year. Should the Jays capture a third straight title they would be the first MVC team to do so since the SMS Lady Bears won six consecutive regular-season titles from 1990-91 through 1995-96.
Records Set in 2002-03
• CU set the school and MVC record for three-point field goals made (259) for the second consecutive season in 2002-03.
• CU established a school record for blocked shots in 2002-03 with 127.
• The Jays 33 games played in 2002-03 were a school record.
• Head Coach Jim Flanery’s 24 wins last year established a school and MVC record for victories by a first-year coach.
• Last year’s team became the first to appear in consecutive national postseason tournaments (NCAA - 2002, WNIT - 2003).
CU’s NCAA Ranks in 2002-03
• The Jays ranked sixth in the NCAA with 7.8 three-point field goals made per game.
• CU ranked 20th in steals in the nation
• CU ranked 21st in fewest turnovers
• CU’s offense ranked 26th in the NCAA
• Laura Spanheimer ranked fifth in the NCAA with a 45.8 three-point field goal percentage.
Stat Watch
• Christy Neneman ranks seventh in CU history with 1,420 career points. With an average year Neneman will finish ranked fourth. The senior also has the opportunity to become the fourth player in school history to surpass 2,000 points.
• Dayna Finch has 211 career three-point field goals. The MVC career record is 258, set by Melody Howard (SMS) and tied by Kourtney Mennen (Indiana State). The school record is 309 threes, set by Kathy Halligan, when the Bluejays were not members of the MVC.
• Laura Spanheimer ranks eighth in school history in career steals with 179 now in her third season, just two steals from moving past current assistant coach Holly (Sivesind) Borchers for seventh place.
Jays Conclude 2003 at WNIT
Creighton ended the 2002-03 season in the WNIT Final Four, with a home loss to Auburn in front of a record crowd for Bluejay women’s basketball. The Jays advanced to the semifinals with three impressive road wins over Maine, Siena and Iowa. The postseason wins were the first at CU since 1994.
