Creighton University
Arkansas State
Women's Basketball Drops Opener at Arkansas State, 73-56
11/14/2008 5:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
JONESBORO, Ark. -- The Creighton women's basketball team dropped its season-opener, 73-56, Friday night at Arkansas State.
The Jays fell behind 13-0 and 18-3 in the opening minutes only to use a 19-4 run to knot the score at 22 with 6:53 to play in the first half. However, Creighton would never own the lead in the game. Keyed by the play of freshman Shania Hurst, the Red Wolves closed the half on an 11-3 run and took a 33-25 lead into intermission. Kelsey Woodard had eight points to lead CU in the opening half.
The Jays trailed just 33-27 early in the second half but missed four straight free throws and did not get any closer than five points (37-32) the rest of the way.
Creighton was led offensively by Woodard and Michelle Kaus, who scored 13 points each. Kristina Voss led CU on the glass with nine rebounds, while Megan Neuvirth had six points, eight rebounds and a team-best three steals. The Bluejays shot 18-for-54 (33.3 percent) from the field, 7-for-20 (35.0 percent) from three-point range and 13-of-25 (52 percent) at the line.
Hurst had 18 points and seven rebounds in just 20 minutes during her first career game at ASU. Hurst drained all four attempts from three-point range. Sherina Scott had 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting as well. ASU shot 44.1 percent for the game (26-59), 35.7 percent from downtown (5-14) and 76.2 percent (16-21) from the line in the win.
Creighton returns to the court on Monday when it hosts Nebraska in its home opener. Tip against the Huskers is set for 7:05 pm.
NOTES: Freshman DaNae Moore made her debut with two points and an assist after missing the exhibition season due to injury ... Creighton is now 0-5 in road openers under Jim Flanery ... Arkansas State is the preseason pick to finish first in the Sun Belt West Division after a 20-12 season last year, including 13-5 in conference play ... ASU went 13-2 at home last year ... This was the first meeting between the schools ... Creighton has opened against a Sun Belt Conference school each of the past three years.
