Bluejays Host Huskers in Women's Basketball Home Opener

Game 2 vs. Nebraska ? Monday, Nov. 17 ? 7:05 p.m.
Nebraska Cornhuskers at Creighton Bluejays
Omaha Civic Auditorium ? Omaha, Neb.
Radio: 88.9 FM, www.kvss.com
Series History: Nebraska leads 23-10
Last Meeting: Nebraska won 79-65 in Lincoln, Nov. 30, 2007

? 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 will be available for a season-pass fee of $39.95 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.

? Creighton is 60-20 (.750) at home under Jim Flanery, including an 11-1 overall record and 3-0 non-conference mark last year.

? CU is 23-11 all-time in its first home game of the year, including wins in seven of its last eight home openers.

? Junior Sam Schuett will miss the entire season after suffering a left ankle injury in practice on Oct. 31.

? CU opened the season with a 73-56 loss at Arkansas State on Friday night. Senior Michelle Kaus and sophomore Kelsey Woodard led the Jays with 13 points each.

? Michelle Kaus needs two three-point field goals to become the 12th player in school history with 100 career three-pointers made.

? CU is 10-23 all-time against Nebraska, including a 9-5 mark in Omaha.

Scouting the Bluejays (0-1)
The Bluejays are picked to finish second in the MVC this year, after finishing just one win shy of a shared MVC title a year ago ... CU returns eight letterwinners and four players who started at least 15 games last year from its 21-12 team which advanced to the second round of the postseason WNIT ... CU led the MVC with 40.7 rebounds per game last year and established school records with 1,342 rebounds and 892 defensive rebounds ... CU also led the MVC with 222 3-pointers last year ... The Jays averaged 85.5 points in their two exhibition wins, but scored just 56 and shot 33.3 percent from the floor in their season-opener ... Sophomore Kelsey Woodard is CU's leading returning scorer, averaging 10.4 ppg last year ... Woodard, an MVC All-Freshman Team honoree, established a league record by earning MVC Newcomer of the Week honors six times last year.

Scouting the Huskers (1-0)
Nebraska opened the season with a dominating 96-47 home win over Weber State on Friday night ... Five Huskers scored in double figures, led by Kala Kuhlmann, Monique Whittaker and Cory Montgomery's 13 points each ... NU drained a school-record 12 three-pointers in the win ... NU is coming off consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including a trip to the second-round last year ... NU was 21-12 last year and is picked to finish eighth in the Big 12 this season ... NU is without two-time first-team all-conference forward Kelsey Griffin ... NU ranked 26th in the NCAA last year with a 44.5 field goal percentage.

The Coaches
Jim Flanery (Creighton, 1987) has led his team to four WNIT postseason appearances and three 20-win seasons in his first six seasons at Creighton. In 2003 he became the winningest rookie coach in school and MVC history and led the Jays to the 2004 WNIT Championship. Now in his seventh season at CU, his overall mark is 109-81 (.574). Prior to serving as CU's head coach, Flanery served as CU's top assistant for a decade. Flanery is 2-4 against Nebraska, dropping the last three meetings, and he is 7-13 against Big 12 opponents. Nebraska is coached by Creighton graduate and former CU head coach Connie Yori. The CU Hall of Famer is 107-81 in her seventh season at NU and 302-221 in her 19th year as a head coach. She has led NU to five straight postseason appearances, including the NCAA Tournament in 2007 and 2008.

CU-NU Series History
Creighton is 10-23 all-time against the other Division I school in the state, including a 9-5 record against the Huskers in Omaha. The Jays have lost the last three meetings with NU, including a 79-65 defeat last year in Lincoln and a 60-57 loss in Omaha in 2006. CU has won three of the last four meetings with Nebraska in Omaha. The Jays are 2-4 against the Huskers since Jim Flanery took over for current NU head coach Connie Yori. Yori went 3-7 against NU when she was at CU.

Last Year vs. Nebraska
Sam Schuett scored a career-high 30 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for a double-double, but it wasn't enough for CU in a 79-65 loss in Lincoln on Nov. 30, 2007. The Huskers closed the first half on a 15-4 run and opened the second half with the first 11 points to take control of the game. Schuett made her first 10 field goal attempts in the game en route to her career-high scoring output. Kelsey Griffin had 20 points and seven rebounds to pace the Huskers, as NU shot 56.6 percent in the game.

Home Openers
The Bluejays are 23-11 in their season debut at home, including wins in seven of their last eight home openers. Last year the Bluejays opened their home slate with a 67-54 win over Arkansas-Little Rock. The Jays are 5-1 in home openers under Jim Flanery, with wins over UMKC, Michigan, Northwestern, Houston and UALR. The lone loss came to Kansas in 2006.

Friends or Foes?
Creighton's head coach Jim Flanery and Nebraska's head coach Connie Yori worked together for more than 12 years, including 10 seasons when Yori was head coach at Creighton from 1992 through 2002. Yori is in the Creighton Athletics Hall of Fame and is one of the greatest players in CU history, as she is one of just two players in school history to have her number retired. CU assistant coaches Jenny Vickers and Dayna Finch played under both Flanery and Yori at Creighton. Finch also worked as a GA on NU's staff under Yori for two seasons. NU basketball staffer Angela Timmons is also a Creighton graduate. Creighton's athletic trainer, Julie Tuttle, attended both Creighton and Nebraska, earning a degree from UNL in 2003.

Battling the Big 12
Creighton begins its Big 12 schedule against Nebraska, its first of five games against the conference this season. The Jays went 1-3 against the Big 12 last year, including a 69-62 home win over eventual league champion Kansas State. CU is 7-13 against the Big 12 under Jim Flanery, including 5-3 in Omaha. Flanery's record against Big 12 opponents; Colorado 2-0; Iowa State 0-1; Kansas 2-3; Kansas State 1-3; Missouri 0-1; Nebraska 2-4; Texas Tech 0-1.

Tough Schedule
Creighton again plays one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the MVC, facing five Big 12 teams, five 20-win teams and four opponents which advanced past the first round of the NCAA tournament last year. Nebraska is the second of the five 20-win teams and first of four NCAA Tournament teams CU faces this year, as the Huskers finished 21-12 last year. In addition to the four NCAA teams (Iowa State, Kansas State, Nebraska, Oklahoma), the Jays also take on two WNIT teams in non-conference play (Kansas, UC Davis).

Arkansas State Recap
Creighton's season got off to a rocky start Friday night with a 73-56 loss at Arkansas State. The Bluejays shot just 33.3 percent from the field and 52.0 percent from the free-throw line. ASU opened the game with a 13-0 run and would go up 18-3 before the put together a 19-4 to knot the game up at 22. ASU would close the first half on a 11-3 run to take a 33-25 lead into the half. The Red Wolves led by as many as 25 in the second half, as the Jays lost to the preseason favorites in the Sun Belt Conference's West Division.

Milestone Watch
Michelle Kaus pushed her career three-point total to 98 with three makes against Arkansas State on Friday night. With two more three-pointers, Kaus will become the 12th player in school history to eclipse 100 career three-pointers.

Right Where She Left Off
While Michelle Kaus' junior season ended abruptly due to a severe knee injury in the MVC Tournament semifinals, the senior hasn't lost her shooting touch. Kaus concluded last year having made 16 of her final 33 three-point field goal attempts, shooting 53.3 percent from long range over her final eight games. On Friday night, the guard made 3-of-5 three-pointers and tied for the team-lead with 13 points.

Newcomer's Debut
Creighton's lone freshman, DaNae Moore, made her collegiate debut in the Jays' season-opener on Friday. Junior college transfer Stephani Rhoten also debuted, making her first Division I field goal attempt, a three-pointer in the second half. Moore, who missed both CU exhibitions with a broken hand, played nine minutes and made the only field goal attempt in her welcome to college basketball.

Downward Trend
Kelsey Woodard and Megan Neuvirth averaged 18.5 and 17.0 points per game, respectively, in exhibition play, but did not follow the same trend in the regular-season opener. Woodard, who shot 58.3 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from three-point range in exhibition play, made 4-of-15 (.267) shots from the field and 3-of-10 (.300) three-pointers, and had 13 points in the opener. Neuvirth shot 65 percent from the field in two exhibitions but made only 2-of-10 (.200) shots in the season-opening loss.

Exhibition Recap
Creighton won both of its exhibition contests of Division II opponents from the MIAA. CU topped Nebraska-Omaha 93-68 and defeated Central Missouri 78-56. The Jays averaged 85.5 points, shooting 46.5 percent from the field, 31.7 percent from three-point range and 67.8 percent from the free-throw line. CU out-rebounded the D2 foes by an average of 10 boards per game. Kelsey Woodard led CU with 18.5 points per game, making 8-of-16 shots from three-point range. Megan Neuvirth averaged 17 points and 10.5 rebounds per game and topped the team with 4.5 assists and 3.0 steals per game. Kellie Nelson (13.5), Kristina Voss (11.0) and Chevelle Herring (10.0) each average double figure point totals as well. The Jays forced 47 turnovers, but committed 37 in the two exhibition games.

Oh Schuett!
For the fourth consecutive season the Bluejays have lost a player to injury for the entire season. This year junior Sam Schuett suffered an ankle injury in practice on Oct. 31 and will be forced to miss the season following surgery on the left ankle on Nov. 10. Chevelle Herring (2007-08), Kelsey Crites (2006-07) and Megan Neuvirth (2005-06) were the previous players to go down with season-ending injuries. Crites played six games in 2006-07, while Herring and Neuvirth did not play a game the seasons they were injured.

Adjust the Numbers
The Jays return 75.9 percent of their rebounding, 66.1 percent of their scoring and 61.1 percent of their assists from last year's squad. However, subtract Sam Schuett's stats from the mix and the numbers drop to 59.1 percent of rebounding, 54.3 percent of scoring and 49.3 percent of assists. Schuett led the team with 6.8 rebounds per game last year, was third in assists and fifth in scoring. Kelsey Woodard is CU's leading returning scorer, averaging 10.4 ppg last year. The sophomore also had 68 assists last year (2.1 apg), tops among returners.

Nebraska Flavor
Six of Creighton's 11 players on this year's roster are from Nebraska ? Bellevue natives 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).

Neuvirth's Near Triple-Double
While it was only exhibition play, Megan Neuvirth's performance against UNO on Nov. 4 was impressive. The junior had 14 points, career-best 14 rebounds, five steals and tied her career-high with eight assists. She's approached a triple-double before, with 14 points, 11 rebounds and seven steals against Indiana State on March 1, 2007 and nine points, eight rebounds and eight assists against Evansville on Feb. 15, 2007. Only two Bluejays have ever recorded a triple-double in the regular-season ? Becky Flynn (Jan. 11, 1994) and Laura Spanheimer (Jan. 8, 2004).

Preseason Picks
The Bluejays have been picked to finish second in the MVC preseason poll as voted on by league coaches, media and sports information directors. The Jays were picked to finish sixth in last year's preseason poll, and ended the year in fourth. The last time the Bluejays were tabbed for a second-place finish was 2004-05, and then went on to finish second. In fact, each of the previous three times the Bluejays were tabbed for a second-place finish (1993-94, 2003-04 and 2004-05), the Jays did finish in second place. Illinois State is the unanimous MVC preseason favorite, earning all 40 first-place votes.

We're Back
The Bluejays return eight letterwinners and four players who started at least 15 games last year, while they lose three letterwinners and two starters. Gone are Tyrai Bronson and starters Sara Cain and Ally Thrall. Returning starters Kristina Voss (32), Megan Neuvirth (21), Kelsey Woodard (19) and Sam Schuett (15) were all regulars in the starting lineup, while Michelle Kaus also started 11 contests last year.

All-Conference Losses
Creighton lost two all-conference players to graduation following last year. Point guard Ally Thrall was named first-team all-MVC after leading the team in scoring (10.8) and assists (3.8). Thrall led the MVC by playing 36.5 minutes per game and averaged 37.4 minutes played per game over her final three seasons at Creighton. Sara Cain earned second-team all-MVC honors after ranking second on the team with 10.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

Welcome to Creighton
The Bluejays welcome just two newcomers to this year's roster, sophomore Stephani Rhoten of Canyon, Texas, and freshman DaNae Moore of Apple Valley, Minn. Rhoten, who attended Seward County (Kan.) Community College last year, is Creighton's first junior college transfer since Taya Allen in 1998-99. Allen was named the MVC Newcomer of the Year that season. Moore, a high school teammate of Bluejay senior Michelle Kaus at Eastview High School, alone makes up the smallest freshman class in CU women's basketball history.

Rhoten's Road to Omaha
Stephani Rhoten has three years of eligibility remaining at Creighton after playing her freshman season at Seward County CC in Liberal, Kan., last year. Rhoten averaged 14.2 points, 6.1 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game in her only junior college season. The guard was named second-team all-conference and honorable-mention all-region after leading both the conference and region in assists.

Chevy Returns
Junior Chevelle Herring returns to the court this year after missing all of last season due to preseason knee surgery. The fourth-year junior took a medical redshirt last year. Herring, who is expected to see a majority of CU's point guard minutes, finished third on the team with 8.6 points per game as a sophomore in 2006-07.

Kaus is Healthy Too
Despite suffering a serious knee injury in Creighton's MVC Tournament semifinal loss to Illinois State in March, senior Michelle Kaus is fully recovered and ready to go this year. Kaus was playing her best ball of the season last year when she suffered her injury. She had made 16-of-30 (.533) shots from three-point range in her final eight games played last year and twice tied her season-high with 15 points in her final three games played.

Voss Has Seniority
Senior Kristina Voss has played in more games (92), started more games (49), scored more points (579) and made more field goals (201) than any current Bluejay on the roster. Her career field-goal percentage of 50.4 leads all Bluejays as well. Last year she led the team by shooting 53.3 percent from the field, which would have ranked third in the MVC had she not fallen just two field goal makes shy of the statistical minimum (three made per game). She also led the team in double-doubles (3), FT made (77) and FT attempts (102) last year.

Record Rebounding
Creighton not only led the MVC with 40.7 rebounds per game and finished second with a plus-5.4 rebounding margin last season, but the Jays also established a school record for rebounds in a season. CU pulled down 1,342 total boards, 892 of which were on the defensive glass, setting school records in both categories. Sam Schuett topped the team and ranked fourth in the MVC with 6.8 rebounds per game. Schuett averaged 7.2 boards per MVC game, as CU averaged 43.1 rebounds in conference play.

League Leaders
In addition to leading the MVC in rebounding last year, the Bluejays also led the way with 222 three-pointers made. Kelsey Woodard and Ally Thrall tied for the team-lead with 52 three-pointers made, which ranked in the MVC top-10. CU finished second in the league in free-throw percentage (.748), three-point field-goal percentage (.353) and total assists (471).

Woodard Can Shoot
Kelsey Woodard led the Bluejays in free-throw shooting and three-point field goals made as a freshman last year. The guard set school records by starting the year and her career with 23 consecutive free-throw makes and led the Jays by shooting 84.1 percent at the line. Her 52 three-pointers made tied for the team lead and her 39.7 career three-point field goal percentage ranks sixth in school history.

Women's Turn at Qwest Center
Creighton will play the first regular-season women's basketball game in Qwest Center Omaha history when the Bluejays host Drake on Friday, Feb. 27. The Jays have previously played two exhibition games, both wins over Central Missouri, at the Qwest Center.

Three in Free-Throw Top 10
Creighton shot 74.8 percent as a team at the free-throw line last year - just shy of the record 75.3 percent set by the 2004-05 team. Both Kelsey Woodard and Sam Schuett ended the year ranked in the single-season top-10 in free-throw percentage in school history last year. Woodard led the team and ranks fifth all-time in free-throw percentage at 84.1 (74-88), while Schuett was right behind Woodard for sixth in a season at 83.3 percent (65-78). Sara Cain (.803) finished last year ranked 10th in single-season free-throw percentage.

Finch Flies Home
The MVC's most prolific three-pointer shooter has returned to the Creighton bench this year. Dayna Finch, a 2004 Creighton graduate, is back on the Bluejay bench as an assistant coach, following a two-year stint at Northern Colorado and two seasons as a graduate assistant at Nebraska. Finch's 294 career three-pointers made remains the MVC record, while her 1,260 career points rank 13th in school history. She replaces Rekha Hollomon, who took a position on Baylor's basketball staff.

So Long Civic
Creighton is playing in its final season at the Omaha Civic Auditorium, as it is slated to move into the new, on-campus Ryan Center and D.J. Sokol Arena prior to next season. The Bluejays went 11-1 at the Civic last year and is 60-20 at home in their six seasons under head coach Jim Flanery.

About Our New Home
Creighton is currently building an on-campus facility for basketball and volleyball. The Ryan Center and D.J. Sokol Arena, a 75,600 square-foot facility, will house a gym seating 2,500 to 3,000, athletics staff 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 in August, 2009.

Bluejays Host Huskers in Women's Basketball Home Opener

Players Mentioned

Sara Cain

DaNae Moore

DaNae Moore

Ally Thrall

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