Creighton University
Iowa State
Second-Half Comeback Lifts Iowa State Past Women's Basketball
12/16/2007 5:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball
AMES, Iowa ? Iowa State used a 23-5 run in the final nine and a half minutes of the second half to spoil an upset bid by the Creighton women's basketball team, as the Cyclones came away with a 60-52 victory at Hilton Coliseum Sunday afternoon. The Bluejays held a 47-37 advantage following a three-pointer by senior Ally Thrall with 9:35 left, but the Jays did not make another field goal the rest of the way.
Creighton (5-4) used an 18-3 run to conclude the first half, erasing a 19-10 Iowa State (7-1) lead to take a 28-22 lead into halftime. It was the shooting of freshman Kelsey Woodard that provided the spark for the Jays. The Bellevue West graduate scored CU's final eight points of the first half, including two treys and a lay-up in the final 3:03 of the period to cap the Creighton run.
Woodard's scoring outburst came on the heels of a four-game span where she had made only one three-pointer and shot 1-for-11 from downtown and 2-for-22 overall from the field. After starting the game just 1-for-11 from the field, the Jays made 10 of their final 16 shots to conclude the half. The Jays went 6-for-10 from three-point range in the opening 20 minutes.
The Jays' hot shooting continued at the start the second half and Creighton took a 40-31 lead with 13:48 left in regulation following a made three by Thrall. Another three-ball by Thrall gave the Jays their largest lead of the game at 47-37, but that would be the last field goal of the contest for Creighton.
Iowa State freshman Kelsey Bolte ignited the Cyclone comeback, scoring seven points during an 11-1 Cyclone run to even the game at 48-48 with 6:22 left. A three-pointer by ISU's Amanda Nisleit gave the Cyclones their first lead of the second half at 51-48. Two free throws from Sara Cain pulled the Jays within 52-50 at the 2:41 mark after, but they could get no closer.
Bolte and sophomore Alison Lacey each scored 15 points for the Cyclones to share game-high scoring honors. Bolte scored 12 of her game-high 15 points in the second half, as the Cyclones shot 45.5 percent from the field in the second stanza.
Woodard was the only Creighton player to score in double-figures, finishing with 12 points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field in a balanced scoring effort by the Jays. Thrall and Cain each scored nine, while sophomore Megan Neuvirth added eight points and three steals.
With four made free throws in the second half, Woodard set a new school record for free throws to begin a season, with 23. She then missed her final two attempts of the half for the first missed freebies of her career.
The Jays held a 33-29 edge on the boards, marking the first game Iowa State had been out-rebounded this season. Sophomore Sam Schuett led the way with seven rebounds, including two of CU's 15 offensive boards. Neuvirth led the way with three of CU's four steals in the game.
Creighton committed 20 turnovers, including 12 in the second half. After the Jays forced 11 first-half Cyclone turnovers, ISU took care of the ball in the second half to finish with 14 in the game.
The Jays will return to the Civic Auditorium on Tuesday night following their six-game road trip, as Creighton hosts another Big 12 Conference opponent Kansas State. The game will tip at 7 p.m. and can be heard live on Spirit 88.9 FM and online at www.kvss.com
