Creighton University Athletics
Bluejays Host Memphis in Women's Basketball Monday
11/18/2007 11:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Game 3 vs. Memphis ? Monday, Nov. 19 ? 7:05 p.m.
Memphis Tigers at Creighton Bluejays
Omaha Civic Auditorium ? Omaha, Neb.
Radio: 88.9 FM, www.kvss.com
Series History: CU leads 2-0
Last Meeting: CU 89, Memphis 79 on Dec. 6, 2006 in Memphis
Memphis Tigers at Creighton Bluejays
Omaha Civic Auditorium ? Omaha, Neb.
Radio: 88.9 FM, www.kvss.com
Series History: CU leads 2-0
Last Meeting: CU 89, Memphis 79 on Dec. 6, 2006 in Memphis
? The game can be heard on Spirit 88.9 FM (KVSS) and online at www.kvss.com.
Brad Burwell and former Bluejay Sara Cizek Going will call the action.
? Live video for all home games are available for a season-pass fee of $29.95 or a per game fee of $4.95. More information is available at www.gocreighton.com
? Live stats for this game and all home games can be found on the CU athletics website at www.gocreighton.com.
? The Bluejays lost 62-43 at No. 6 Rutgers on Friday. CU shot just 22 percent in the loss, its worst shooting performance since shooting 19.7 percent at Northwestern on Nov. 21, 2003.
? CU did force more Rutgers turnovers (20) than it committed (16) on Friday and logged 10 steals to six by the Scarlet Knights.
? No Bluejay has scored more than 10 points in a game this year. Ally Thrall and Sara Cain each had 10 at Rutgers, while Megan Neuvirth and Michelle Kaus each had 10 against Arkansas-Little Rock.
? Senior Sara Cain made the first two three-point field goals of her career in Friday's loss at Rutgers.
? The Bluejays will play their next six games away from Omaha and will not return home for a game until Dec. 18.
Scouting the Bluejays
Creighton is 1-1 on the season after a home opening win over UALR and road loss at sixth-ranked Rutgers last Friday ... CU is coming off a 13-19 season, including an 8-10 sixth-place finish in the Missouri Valley Conference and a spot in the MVC Tournament title game ... CU has been picked to finish sixth in the MVC preseason poll ... Sara Cain and Megan Neuvirth tie for the team-lead with 8.0 points per game, while eight Bluejays average at least five points per game through two contests ... Neuvirth, who has made 7-of-12 shots this year and leads the team with 5.5 rebounds per game, was named MVC Newcomer of the Year and MVC All-Defensive Team last year after leading the Valley in steals and team in rebounding ... Sam Schuett led the team and ranked second in the MVC in three-point shooting (.427), while earning MVC All-Freshman team honors last year ... Chevelle Herring is out indefinitely with a knee injury.
Scouting the Tigers
Memphis is off to an 0-2 start with home losses to Tennessee Tech and Southeastern Louisiana ... The Tigers finished 4-27 last year, including last in Conference USA with a 1-15 mark ... Memphis is averaging 26.5 turnovers per game ... The Tigers are averaging 65 points per game, while allowing 74.5 points per contest ... Junior Ashley Thornton leads the team with 17 points and eight rebounds per game, while making 12-of-19 shots from the field ... Paris Leonard (10.5) and Jessica Hall (10.0) also score in double figures.
The Coaches
Jim Flanery (Creighton, 1987) guided his team to three straight WNIT appearances to start his career, while capturing the 2004 WNIT Championship. In 2003 he became the winningest rookie coach in school and MVC history. Now in his sixth season at CU, his overall mark is 89-68 (.567). Prior to serving as CU's head coach, Flanery served as CU's top assistant for a decade. Flanery is 1-0 against Memphis and 2-1 against Conference USA teams. The legendary Blair Savage-Lansden (Arkansas, 1994) is in her fourth year at Memphis where she is 20-70 in her first head coaching assignment.
CU-Memphis Series History
The Bluejays and Tigers will meet for the second straight season but just the third time in school history, as the Jays have won both of the previous meetings. CU won 65-60 in 1983 and 89-79 last December, both games took place in Memphis.
Last Year Against Memphis
The Bluejays captured their first win of the year ? in their eighth game ? with an 89-79 victory in Memphis on Dec. 6. Six Bluejays scored in double figures for the first time since 1996, led by Ally Thrall's 21 points. CU led by as many as 23 in the second half. Sara Cain added 13 points, six rebounds, a career-high five assists and season-high four steals in just 21 minutes. Chevelle Herring (16), Michelle Kaus (11), Sam Schuett (10) and Tyrai Bronson (10) all reached double figures in scoring as well.
Out of Action
The Jays have lost a player for the season due to a torn ACL for the third straight year, as freshman Abby Henry has suffered the season-ending injury this year. Megan Neuvirth (2005-06) and Kelsey Crites (2006-07) have also suffered the season-ending injury. As Neuvirth and Crites both did, Henry will apply for a medical redshirt at the end of the year.
Cain With Range
Senior Sara Cain had attempted one three-pointer in her career through her first three seasons on campus. Last Friday at Rutgers, she launched six shots from long range, making two. She hit back-to-back three-pointers early in the second half to account for the first two trifectas of her career.
Oh-for-Omaha
Creighton's three active Omaha metro products ? Kellie Nelson, Sam Schuett, Kelsey Woodard ? had a tough shooting night at Rutgers last Friday, combining to go 0-for-16 from the field and 0-for-8 from three-point range in the loss. In fact, Schuett has yet to make a field goal this year, missing on her first six attempts from the floor. Woodard missed all seven of her shot attempts at Rutgers, and is 0-for-7 from three-point range to open her collegiate career.
On the Offensive
Creighton's leading rebounders, Megan Neuvirth and Kristina Voss, have both been offensive minded when hitting the glass this year. Of their 11 rebounds each, both players have more offensive than defensive rebounds. Neuvirth has six offensive boards, while eight of the 11 boards by Voss are offensive.
Battling the Best
With the 62-43 loss at No. 6 Rutgers on Friday, the Bluejays have now lost 13 consecutive games to nationally-ranked opponents. CU's last win against a ranked foe came on Dec. 7, 1999 when it defeated 14th-ranked Kansas in Omaha, 55-54. The Jays' last road win against a ranked team came Jan. 2, 1999, a 67-64 win at No. 25 Missouri State in Springfield, Mo. CU is 2-17 against the top-25 since 1998-99.
Season & Home Openers
Creighton improved to 14-20 all-time in season openers, including 2-4 under head coach Jim Flanery with a 67-54 win over UALR (Nov. 10). The Bluejays are 9-5 when playing their first game of the year at home. This year marks just the sixth season since 1990 the Jays have opened the year at home. All-time the Bluejays are now 23-11 in their season debut at home, including wins in seven of their last eight home openers.
Solid Debuts
Freshmen Kellie Nelson and Kelsey Woodard had strong collegiate debuts against UALR last Saturday. Nelson grabbed six rebounds in the first half and finished with seven points and seven rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench. Woodard was 3-for-6 from the field and had eight points while tying for the team-lead with three assists, also in 19 minutes off the bench.
Three for Thrall
Ally Thrall's three-point basket against UALR on Nov. 10 was the 103rd of her career, breaking a tie with Christy Neneman for sole possession of 10th place on the CU career charts. Thrall now has 105 career three-pointers and the next person she will aim for on the CU three-point list will be current graduate manager Kristi Woodard who made 132 treys in her injury-shortened career.
Exhibition Recap
Creighton cruised past Division II Central Missouri 88-48 on Nov. 1 in its only exhibition game this year. Six Bluejays scored in double figures, led by Sara Cain's 13. Kristina Voss logged a double-double with 12 points and game-high 12 rebounds. Senior Ally Thrall was joined by freshmen Kellie Nelson and Kelsey Woodard with 12 points each. In fact, both freshmen were the first players to reach double figures for the Bluejays. Sam Schuett added 11 points for the Jays off the bench. CU shot 55 percent from the field, 45.5 percent (10-22) from three-point range and went a perfect 12-for-12 from the free-throw line while out-rebounding UCM 41-22. The Jays forced 25 turnovers and had a 38-18 advantage in points off turnovers and dominated the paint, out-scoring UCM 44-10 inside.
Recent Exhibition History
The Bluejays are 17-1 in their last 18 exhibition contests, dating back to 1998.
Exhibition Results
11-04-98 Creighton 76, Lithuania 57
11-10-98 Creighton 86, Neb. All Stars 67
11-03-99 Creighton 89, Neb. All Stars 73
11-09-99 Creighton 89, Latvia 67
11-07-00 Latvia 70, Creighton 55
11-12-00 Creighton 75, UN-Omaha 63
11-04-01 Creighton 85, UN-Omaha 57
11-07-01 Creighton 100, Lithuania 48
11-04-02 Creighton 86, Team Concept 64
11-10-02 Creighton 98, UN-Omaha 61
11-01-03 Creighton 64, South Dakota 54
11-09-03 Creighton 82, UN-Kearney 75
11-01-04 Creighton 80, South Dakota 54
11-06-04 Creighton 87, UN-Kearney 57
11-06-05 Creighton 82, Central Missouri 74
11-12-05 Creighton 81, South Dakota 48
11-05-06 Creighton 83, South Dakota 74
11-01-07 Creighton 88, Central Missouri 48
They're Back
Creighton had no seniors on the roster last year and returns 10 of 11 letterwinners and all five starters from last year's team. The only player not returning is role-player Jess Lammers, therefore the Jays are returning 99.6 percent of scoring and 99.5 percent of minutes played from last year's team. All but one (Katie Frank) of the 10 returners started at least two games for the Jays last year.
Preseason Picks
The Bluejays received one first place vote and have been picked to finish sixth in the MVC this year in the preseason poll voted on by league coaches, media and sports information directors. The Jays were picked to finish ninth in last year's preseason poll, and ended the year in sixth. The last time the Bluejays were tabbed for a sixth-place finish was 2001-02, when they captured their first regular-season Valley title. Drake is the MVC preseason favorite for the second straight year, earning 24 of 39 first-place votes.
We “Kneed” You
Kelsey Crites and Megan Neuvirth are both coming off of ACL injuries suffered last year. Crites tore her right ACL in the sixth game (at Missouri) last season and earned a medical redshirt. Neuvirth suffered a torn ACL in the final moments of overtime in Creighton's final game last year, the MVC Tournament championship game at Drake.
Welcome to Creighton
Creighton's three freshmen this year are all from the Omaha metro area, including high school teammates Kelsey Woodard and Abby Henry. Both Bellevue West graduates verbally committed to Creighton prior to their sophomore year of high school. Kellie Nelson led her Westside team to a state runner-up finish, falling to Henry and Woodard's Thunderbirds in the state title game.
Senior Citizens
Sara Cain and Ally Thrall are seniors on this year's team, one year removed from a “senior-less” squad. Last year marked the first time since 1990-91 that the Bluejays did not have a senior. CU followed up that team without seniors by logging a school-record 28 wins and advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.
Five Starters Back
The Bluejays have all five starters back from last year's team after opening last season with just one returning starter. Senior Ally Thrall was the only player to start all 32 games last year, while Sara Cain started 29 and Michelle Kaus started 26. Megan Neuvirth (19) and Sam Schuett (18) are also considered returning starters. Kristina Voss (16) and Chevelle Herring (15) also started for a good portion of the season, while Kelsey Crites and Tyrai Bronson also earned a pair of starts each. This marks the first time since 1990-91 that the Bluejays have returned all five starters. That 1990-91 squad finished 22-7.
All in the Family
Freshman Kelsey Woodard is following in the footsteps of older sister Kristi, who played at Creighton from 2002-06 and is now the graduate manager for the Jays. Kelsey is wearing the same No. 3 that Kristi wore during her playing career. The Woodard's sister in-law, Heidi Geier Woodard is in the CU Athletics Hall of Fame for her softball career in the late 1990s.
Coaching Changes
Creighton welcomes Rekha P. Hollomon as an assistant coach on this year's team, replacing associate head coach Tanya Warren. Hollomon, a native of North Carolina, spent last season at Ball State and has also been on staff at Eastern Illinois and Baylor. Warren left her alma mater to become head coach at MVC foe Northern Iowa.
Stealing is Good
The Bluejays logged 8.6 steals per game last year, including a league-leading 8.5 in MVC games. That was much improved from the 2005-06 squad which recorded the fewest steals per game (5.6) in school history. Megan Neuvirth led the conference with 76 steals as a freshman last year, including 43 in conference play and an MVC record 14 during the Valley tournament.
Room For Improvement
The 2006-07 team made history as the worst three-point shooting team in the annals of Creighton women's basketball. Last year's squad shot just 30.1 percent from three-point range to rank last in the MVC. The previous low for a CU team had been the 1999-2000 team which shot 32.1 percent from beyond the arc.
Seniors, Co-Captains, Roomies, etc.
Roommates Sara Cain and Ally Thrall have many similarities. Cain (Walford) and Thrall (Des Moines) are both Iowa natives, both earned MVC All-Tournament Team honors last year and both were named second-team all-MVC scholar-athletes last year. They co-led the team with 10.6 points per game (though Cain edged Thrall 339-338 total) and they are co-captains as the only two seniors on this season's team.
Nebraska Flavor
Over half of Creighton's 13 players on the roster this season are playing collegiate basketball in their home state. Bellevue natives Abby Henry (West), Chevelle Herring (East) and Kelsey Woodard (West), Omaha products Kellie Nelson (Westside) and Sam Schuett (Millard West) along with Katie Frank (South Sioux City) and Megan Neuvirth (West Point Central Catholic).
Thrall's to the Wall
Senior Ally Thrall has led the MVC in minutes played in each of the last two years, averaging 38.3 minutes per game last year and 37.4 minutes per game as a sophomore in 2005-06. She tied a school record by playing in 123 (of 125) minutes at the MVC Tournament last year. She played the entire game 12 times last year and has played an entire game 25 times in her career, including all 45 minutes of an OT game three times.
Neuvirth is Newcomer of Year
Sophomore Megan Neuvirth was named the MVC Newcomer of the Year last season as a redshirt freshman. She led the league with 76 steals, including an MVC-best 43 in conference play. Neuvirth also led the team with 6.7 rebounds per game and 7.3 in MVC play. She was the only freshman on the MVC All-Defensive team. Her four double-doubles last year also topped the team and were the most by a CU freshman since Shannon Struby's nine in 1990-91.
Sara's Scoring
Senior Sara Cain averaged 3.9 points per game through her first two years on campus, before breaking through to lead the team with 10.6 points per game last year. She ended her junior season with an exclamation point, by scoring a career-high 24 points on 11-of-18 shooting against Drake in the MVC Tournament title game.
Record-Setting Performances
Creighton used record-setting efforts by a trio of players to reach the MVC Tournament title game last March. Megan Neuvirth set an MVC and school record by recording 14 steals in CU's three games at the event. Sam Schuett set the school record for total rebounds in an event with 27 and her 9.0 rebounds per tournament game in her career is a school record. Her 12 boards in the MVC Championship game also tied the school record for rebounds in a tournament game. Ally Thrall's 123 minutes played tied Krissie Spanheimer's 1999 school record for minutes played in an MVC tourney.
Good Things Come in Threes
Junior Michelle Kaus led the team and ranked eighth in the MVC with 54 three-point field goals made last year. Of her 88 career field goals made, 77.3 percent (68) of them have come from three-point range. She twice made six three-pointers in a game last year.
Schedule Notes
Creighton again plays the toughest non-conference schedule in the MVC. The Jays open the season against Arkansas-Little Rock on Saturday, Nov. 10. UALR is one of six teams that won at least 20 games last year. The Bluejays will also face four Big 12 teams (three on the road) and four NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago. Creighton's toughest task will come at preseason No. 3 Rutgers, the 2006-07 NCAA National runners-up, on Nov. 16.
Blog Me
Senior guard Ally Thrall has her own blog on the Creighton athletics website at www.gocreighton.com. “Thrall's Thoughts” gives fans insights to the team through the eyes of one of its co-captains. The public relations / advertising major updates the blog once a week.
We're Moving
Creighton broke ground for a new on-campus women's basketball and volleyball facility on Oct. 16. The Ryan Athletics Center and D.J. Sokol Arena, a 46,000 square-foot facility, will house a gym seating 2,500 to 3,000, women's basketball and volleyball coaches offices, locker rooms, ticket offices, athletic training and meeting rooms, media workrooms and much more. Construction on the facility located at Webster and Florence Blvd. (19th Street) is expected to be completed by the end of 2008.
Put it in Neutral
For the first time in women's Missouri Valley Conference Tournament history, the event will be played at a neutral site. The 10-team event will take place in St. Charles, Mo. (a suburb of St. Louis) on March 13-16 at The Family Arena. The neutral site will be a welcome site for league members who have not hosted the event over the past four seasons. The host school won the tournament in 2004 (Missouri State), 2005 (Illinois State), 2006 (Missouri State) and 2007 (Drake). In each of the last three seasons, the host school has been the seventh or eighth seed.
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/ Women's BasketballWednesday, September 23
Wednesday, September 23
Tuesday, September 22
Tuesday, September 22
