Creighton University
Bradley
Women Win Fourth Straight, Top Bradley 69-65
2/1/2007 2:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Creighton scored the first four points of the game and went ahead 8-5 before Devyn Flanagan made her only three-pointer of the night for Bradley (7-14, 3-7 MVC) to tie the game. Erika Nelson drained a three-pointer on the Braves' next trip down the court as BU used a 13-0 run to go up 18-8 with 12:11 to play in the first half. The Braves led 28-18 with 6:19 to go before the Bluejays closed the half on a 16-4 run to close within two before halftime.
A lay-up by Neuvirth after an Ally Thrall steal tied the game at 34 after halftime, before the Jays went ahead on their next possession with another Neuvirth bucket. CU and BU would exchange the lead a few more times before the Braves reclaimed a four-point lead, up 50-46 with just over 14 minutes to play.
Tyrai Bronson nailed one of her three three-point baskets to get the Jays within one and a three-pointer by Sam Schuett gave the Jays a 52-50 lead with 11:02 remaining. CU would never trail again, while not leading by more than six points for the final 11 minutes. Creighton's largest lead was six, 58-52 with 6:29 to play. The Braves would cut the CU lead to two points on five occasions in the final 4:19, but the Jays made clutch shots and Thrall went 4-for-4 from the free-throw line in the final 11 seconds to give the Jays their second-straight road win and fourth consecutive overall.
Neuvirth, who is the reigning MVC Newcomer of the Week, scorched BU for a career-best 19 points, making 9-of-14 shots from the field. She also dished a career-best six assists and swiped two steals. Schuett, a fellow rookie, logged her second career double-double with 12 points and team-high 10 rebounds. The Millard West product, who entered the game leading the MVC in three-point accuracy, made 4-for-10 three-point attempts. Both Neuvirth and Schuett played career-highs with 38 minutes each.
Thrall finished with 15 points and three steals with no turnovers in 40 minutes of play. Bronson played 22 minutes without a turnover and went 3-for-5 from three-point range, after entering the game just 3-of-26 (.115) from long range in MVC play on the season.
Ashley Chelleen led BU with 17 points and 11 rebounds off the bench, while three other Braves scored in double figures. Nelson had 14, Jen Brown 13 and Amy Peters 11.
CU forced 17 Bradley turnovers, owning a 15-5 advantage in points off turnovers.
Creighton will look to win its fifth straight game when it plays at UNI on Saturday afternoon. CU and UNI will enter the contest with identical 6-4 MVC marks, with UNI owning a 56-53 win over the Jays in
