Women's Basketball Hosts First-Place Evansville Sunday
2/15/2008 4:15:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Evansville Purple Aces at Creighton Bluejays
Omaha Civic Auditorium ? Omaha, Neb.
Radio: 88.9 FM, www.kvss.com ? Video: www.gocreighton.com
Series History: Creighton leads 21-9
Last Meeting: UE won 75-60 in Evansville, Jan. 17, 2008
? 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 stats and live video for this game and all home games can be found on the CU athletics website at www.gocreighton.com.
? Doors to the Civic will open at 10 a.m. for a pregame pancake feed.
? CU is 8-1 at home this year where it averages 71.6 points per game.
? The Bluejays did not make a three-pointer against SIU on Thursday, snapping a streak of 228 straight games with a 3FG make.
? Ally Thrall leads the MVC, shooting 43.3 percent from three-point range.
? Thrall begins today with 985 career points, just 15 shy of becoming the 19th player in school history with 1,000.
? Sara Cain pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds against SIU on Thursday, while Megan Neuvirth scored a season-best 13 points in the win over the Salukis.
? CU is looking for its second win over the MVC first-place team this month, as it topped then No. 24 Illinois State to snap the Redbirds 14-game winning streak and hand ISU its first MVC loss of the year on Feb. 2.
? Creighton is 21-9 all-time against the Purple Aces, including 8-3 under Jim Flanery and 9-4 in Omaha.
Scouting the Bluejays
Creighton is 5-1 in its last six games, including a 62-59 win over SIU Thursday night ... The three-point win moved the Jays to 5-1 on the year in games decided by five points or less and 30-17 in such games under head coach Jim Flanery ... The Jays are 8-1 at home this season (5-1 in the MVC), where they average 71.6 points per game ? nine more per game than on the road ... Creighton's 42.9 rebounds per MVC game leads the league, while its minus-5.1 turnover margin ranks last ... Ally Thrall leads the MVC with a 43.3 three-point field goal percentage and tops the team with 3.8 assists per game and 4.5 in MVC play ... Thrall's career free-throw percentage of 81.0 ranks second in school history ... Sara Cain leads the team with 12 double-figure scoring games this year ... Four-time MVC Newcomer of the Week Kelsey Woodard leads the team with 12.5 points per game in MVC play and she is averaging 14.1 points in her eight starts ... Kristina Voss is shooting 53.6 percent in MVC play to lead the league.
Scouting the Purple Aces
Evansville is the hottest team in the MVC, entering the game on a 10-game winning streak, including nine straight in Valley play and a 69-66 overtime win at Drake on Thursday ... The Aces lead the league with a plus-4.4 turnover margin as they force better than 20 turnovers per game and average 10 steals per game ... UE ranks second in the league in steals per game and in offense at 71.5 ppg ... In MVC play, the Aces own a plus 10.2 scoring margin and a plus-5.8 turnover margin ... The Aces are led by all-MVC performer Rebekah Parker with 14.5 points per game, 16.1 ppg in MVC play ... Parker leads the team with 3.7 assists per game and shoots a team-best 46.3 percent from the field ... Courtney Felke averages 11.8 points per game and leads the MVC with 60 three-pointers ... Shannon Novosel is the reigning MVC Player of the Week, she adds 11.1 points per game and a team-best 6.7 rebounds per game and 28 blocked shots ... Ashley Austin tops the team with 41 steals.
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 record is 102-76 (.573). Prior to serving as CU's head coach, Flanery served as CU's top assistant for a decade. Evansville is coached by Tricia Cullop (Purdue, 1993), who is 118-105 (.529) in her eighth season with the Purple Aces.
Creighton-Evansville Series
Creighton has dominated the all-time series with Evansville, owning a 21-9 advantage. The Bluejays have won 11 of the last 14 meetings between the team, including CU season sweeps in six of the last seven years. The Jays are 9-4 in Omaha, including wins in five of the last six meetings in Omaha. The Jays are 8-3 against the Aces under Jim Flanery. CU lost at Evansville 75-60 last month, as UE score the game's final 10 points to pull away after Creighton led 30-29 at the half. Sara Cain led CU with 14 points in the loss, while Rebekah Parker led all players with 19. Last year CU swept UE, including a 77-65 win in Omaha. Megan Neuvirth approached a triple-double with nine points, eight rebounds and career-best eight assists in that win, while Cain led four Bluejays in double figures with 14.
Individuals Against the Purple Aces
With her 20-point second half game against Evansville last year, Sam Schuett averaged 15.5 points per game against the Aces and averages 12.3 points and 5.3 boards per game against UE in her career. Megan Neuvirth had two solid games against UE as a rookie, averaging 12.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game against the Aces. Michelle Kaus averaged 12.5 points per game and went 6-for-16 (.375) from three-point range against UE last year. Sara Cain averaged 9.5 points and 6.0 rebounds against UE last year. In her career, Ally Thrall averages 8.9 points, 3.1 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game against the Aces.
Stop that Thief
Sophomore Megan Neuvirth tied her career-high and came within two steals of a school record when she swiped seven steals at Drake on Feb. 9. Neuvirth leads the team with 41 steals on the season (1.9 per game). Neuvirth has swiped at least four steals in each of the last four games she has played in at the Knapp Center, as she established the MVC Tournament record with 14 steals in just three games at the event in Des Moines last year.
Schedule Updates
The MVC recently announced that Creighton's game with Illinois State on Feb. 29 will be televised live on Fox Sports Net. The game time is now set for a 7:35 p.m. tip at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. The game time for Creighton's game at Bradley has also been set. The Jays and Braves will play at 2:05 p.m. on Feb. 23.
To 14 ... and Beyond
With a win over Southern Illinois on Feb. 14, the Bluejays have already surpassed last season's win total of 13 with at least eight games left in the season. The 2006-07 team finished 13-19 for a second-straight losing record by the Bluejays. In the previous 34 years of Creighton women's basketball, the Jays have never had three straight losing seasons.
3FG Streak Snapped at 228
Creighton had made at least one three-point field goal in every game in the Jim Flanery era and for 228 straight games before an 0-for-6 night from beyond the arc against Southern Illinois (Feb. 14). The Bluejays had made a three-pointer in every game dating back to an 0-for-11 performance from long range against Alabama on Dec. 20, 2000.
Down the Stretch
Kelsey Woodard had two points through the first 32 minutes of Creighton's win over Southern Illinois (Feb. 14) before scoring 12 of her team-high 14 points in the final 7:30 to lead the Jays to victory. She accounted for 12 of CU's final 18 points in the win. In CU's first meeting with SIU (Jan. 20), she scored the final nine points of the game for CU, nine of CU's 11 overtime points and 13 of the last 15 points for the Jays.
Cain Crashes Glass
Senior forward Sara Cain did not have a double-figure rebounding game through her first 109 career games, reaching nine rebounds five times, before pulling down a career-best 11 caroms against Southern Illinois on Thursday.
Thrall and Voss Qualify for Free-Throws
Ally Thrall took her 200th career free-throw attempt against Southern Illinois (Feb. 14) to qualify for the CU record books in free-throw accuracy. Thrall is 162-for-200 at the stripe in her career, to put her 81 percent as the second-best percentage in school history. She trails only current graduate manager Kristi Woodard's school record of 86.2 percent.
Kristina Voss has now attempted 61 free-throws on the season to qualify for the CU single-season percentage mark. At 82 percent (50-61), she currently ranks seventh in CU single-season history from the line. Kelsey Woodard needs just three more free-throw attempts and Sam Schuett needs nine more to qualify for the CU single-season top 10 in free-throw percentage.
Neuvirth is Virth it
Sophomore Megan Neuvirth scored a season-high 13 points against SIU on Feb. 14, just her third game scoring in double figures this season. The forward scored 11 of her 13 points in the first half and added a team-high three steals in the win.
Get Woodard 10 Points for the ?W'
Kelsey Woodard scored seven points in the first half at Drake, but was then shutout in the second half of CU's loss on Feb. 9. She bounced back with 14 points against SIU (Feb. 14). When Woodard has scored 10 points or more this year, the Jays are now 9-2, when she scores less than 10, CU is 5-6.
More Keys to Success
When Creighton shoots 40 percent or better from the field this year it is 13-1, while the Jays are just 1-7 this season when shooting below 40 percent. The Jays are 10-3 when making at least six three-pointers in a game and a perfect 6-0 when making at least 10 three-pointers in a contest.
Individual League Leaders
A pair of Bluejays lead the league in statistical categories this week. Junior center Kristina Voss tops the MVC, shooting 53.6 percent from the field (37-69) in MVC play, while she is second in the MVC at 54.9 percent (67-122) from the field on the year. Senior guard Ally Thrall is shooting 43.3 percent from three-point range (39-90) this season to lead the MVC.
Top and Bottom of the League
The Bluejays lead the MVC with 42.9 rebounds per game in conference play, while their plus-7.1 rebounding margin in Valley play is second. The Jays are last in MVC play with a minus-5.1 turnover margin.
Ally Cat Keeps Climbing
Senior Ally Thrall enters the weekend with 985 career points, just 15 shy of becoming the 19th member of the 1,000-point club at Creighton. The guard is now ranked seventh in school history with 141 career three-pointers, 10 shy of moving into sixth place.
Give us a Second Chance
Creighton has scored 289 second-chance points this year, for an average of 13.1 per game ? 4.3 more second-chance points per game than its opponents. During CU's four-game winning streak the Jays won by an average of 5.8 points, while they have averaged nine more second chance points per game (14-5) than their opponents in that span. Before CU was out-scored 12-7 in second-chance opportunities in a loss at Drake (Feb. 9), the Jays had gone 10 straight games without a disadvantage on second-chance points. Drake was just the third team this year to hold that edge over CU.
Woodard Earns MVC Honors
Kelsey Woodard was named both the MVC Player and Newcomer of the Week on Feb. 4 after scoring a game-high 20 points in each of CU's road wins the previous week. Woodard is just the second player in league history ? Illinois State's Kristi Cirone, Dec. 19, 2005 ? to earn both of the honors in the same week. It also marks the fourth time she has earned Newcomer of the Week accolades this year, tying a school and MVC record which Megan Neuvirth established last year. She's the first CU freshman to be named MVC Player of the Week since Becky Flynn on Feb. 1, 1993.
20-20 Vision for Woodard
Kelsey Woodard scored 20 points in each of CU's wins at Indiana State (Jan. 31) and Illinois State (Feb. 2), becoming the first Bluejay to post consecutive 20-point games since Angie Janis did so in four straight games from Feb. 19-March 4, 2006. Woodard is the first freshman to post back-to-back 20-point games since Becky Flynn did so on March 1 & 4, 1993. The rookie now has three 20-point games this year, the most by a CU freshman since Flynn had five 20-point outings during the 1992-93 season in which she was named both the MVC Newcomer and Freshman of the Year.
Sister Act
With older sister Kristi watching from the Bluejay bench as the graduate manager, Kelsey Woodard shot her way past big sister last week. With 20 points at Indiana State (Jan. 31), Kelsey pushed her season point total to 181 through her first 19 games. In Kristi's rookie season of 2002-03, the elder Woodard played in 29 games and scored 179 points on the season. Through 20 games in her rookie season, Kelsey had already made more three-pointers (32-18), more free-throws (43-23) and dished more assists (46-20) than her older sister did during her all-MVC freshman team campaign.
Start No. 3
Kelsey Woodard has started the last seven games for the Bluejays and made eight starts this year as a freshman. The Jays are 6-2 with Woodard in the starting line-up and 8-6 with her coming off the bench. Woodard is averaging 14.1 points and 4.5 rebounds per game and shooting 42.1 percent (16-38) from three-point range as a starter, compared to 7.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 35.4 percent (17-48) from three-point range as a reserve.
Flan's 100th ?W'
Jim Flanery captured his 100th career victory as a head coach when the Bluejays defeated Indiana State 68-60 on Jan. 31. He joins Bruce Rasmussen (198) and Connie Yori (170) as the only other women's basketball coaches at Creighton to reach the 100-win plateau. Flan got his milestone win in his 175th game, while Rasmussen captured his 100th win in his 178th game and Yori needed 167 games to get to her 100th victory at Creighton.
Neuvirth for Three?
Megan Neuvirth entered CU's game at No. 24 Illinois State 2-for-14 from three-point range on the season and with just three three-point field goals made in her first 51 career games. The sophomore forward stepped up and went 2-for-2 from three-point range to help the Jays get past the Redbirds (Feb. 2).
X-X First-Half Leads to X-X Finish
With the first half of MVC play behind them, the Bluejays can look kindly at history. The last time CU went 6-3 through nine games of MVC play, it went on to share the regular-season title in 2002-03. The Jays have finished the first half of MVC play with a winning record for the 13th time in their 16 seasons of Valley play. This marks the fourth time CU is 6-3 after nine Valley games, CU finished in fourth place after its first two 6-3 starts in MVC play.
Season 1st Half Overall Finish
2007-08 6-3 ?? ??
2006-07 5-4 8-10 6th
2005-06 4-5 5-13 T-9th
2004-05 8-1 13-5 T-2nd
2003-04 8-1 15-3 2nd
2002-03 6-3 13-5 T-1st
2001-02 8-1 16-2 1st
2000-01 5-4 11-7 4th
1999-00 4-5 7-11 6th
1998-99 5-4 9-9 7th
1997-98 7-2 11-7 3rd
1996-97 4-5 7-11 8th
1995-96 6-3 10-8 T-4th
1994-95 6-3 12-6 4th
1993-94 8-0 14-2 2nd
1992-93 7-1 12-4 T-2nd
The Energizer Bluejay
Senior Ally Thrall played all 80 minutes in Creighton's road games at Indiana State and Illinois State and played in 151 of CU's 160 minutes during the Jays' four-game winning streak. Thrall has played in 29 career “complete games”, including playing all 45 minutes of an overtime game four times in her career. She has also played better than 40 minutes in two other OT games in her career, but did not play the entire game in those contests.
Double the Double-Doubles
Junior Kristina Voss pulled down a career-high 15 rebounds at Indiana State (Jan. 31) to go along with 13 points for her second double-double of the season and career. The 15 rebounds were the most by a Bluejay since Angie Janis pulled down 16 against Missouri State on Jan. 9, 2006. Voss went 7-for-7 at the free-throw line in the game as well.
Voss Named Scholar of the Week
Kristina Voss averaged a double-double in road wins at Indiana State (Jan. 31) and No. 24 Illinois State (Feb. 2), pulling down a career-best 15 rebounds against the Sycamores. Voss, who carries a 3.09 GPA in elementary education, was named the MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week for her efforts.
Bluejays are No Bird Brains
Seniors Sara Cain and Ally Thrall have been named to the ESPN The Magazine CoSIDA Academic All-District VII Team. Cain, a second-team honoree, owns a 3.71 GPA in exercise science / pre-med, while Thrall, a third-team selection, carries a 3.78 GPA in public relations / advertising.
Beating the Best
With a 75-71 win over No. 24 Illinois State (Feb. 2), the Bluejays snapped a 13-game losing streak to nationally-ranked opponents. The win marked CU's first over a top 25 team since Dec. 7, 1999. CU had not won a road game over a top 25 team since Jan. 2, 1999. CU is 1-1 against the top-25 this year and now 3-17 against the top-25 since 1998-99.
Crites, Frank Tie Career-Highs
Sophomores Kelsey Crites and Katie Frank came off the bench to tie their career-highs in points in CU's 72-69 win over Bradley (Jan. 26). Crites poured in 11 points on 5-for-7 shooting from the field and added five rebounds in 17 minutes of play. Crites also established a career-high with six assists against UNI (Jan. 24). Frank ? who had scored four points in 11 career MVC games prior to the game ? finished with eight points in just eight minutes. Frank was a perfect 3-for-3 from the field and she drained her first career three-pointer and free-throw in the victory.
Road Weary Warriors
Creighton is 5-7 in true road games this year, including 2-3 in MVC play, compared to 8-1 at home overall and 5-1 in Valley action. The Jays score more, shoot better and take better care of the ball at home. Statistical comparisons below:
Statistic Home Road
Record 8-1 5-7
PPG 71.6 62.6
Opp. PPG 61.9 68.5
FG% 43.2 37.5
Opp. FG% 37.8 44.9
3FG% 37.3 32.2
Opp. 3FG% 29.3 33.6
Reb. Margin +6.4 +3.4
Asst. / game 16.7 12.9
TO / game 16.9 18.7
TO margin -1.0 -4.2
Bulldogs Deal Bluejays Bad Home Loss
Creighton opened its home schedule 5-0 this year, while out-scoring opponents by 19 points per game. That all came crashing to an end in a 22-point loss to Drake (Jan. 12). The 73-51 loss was CU's worst home loss under Jim Flanery and the Bluejays' worst home defeat since losing by 25, 84-59, to Missouri State on Dec. 30, 2000.
If the Schuett Fits
Sam Schuett snapped out of a scoring slump by leading the Bluejays with 18 points to go along with a career-high 13 rebounds against UNI (Jan. 24). Since scoring in double figures in five straight games (Nov. 23-Dec. 5), Schuett had not scored more than seven points and averaged just 5.4 points per game in her eight contests prior to the UNI outburst. The double-double was her second of the year and the fifth of her career.
Woodard Wows
Freshman Kelsey Woodard poured in a career-high 25 points at Southern Illinois (Jan. 20), including nine of CU's 11 overtime points. She scored the final nine points of the game for CU and 13 of the last 15. Her point total was the highest by a Bluejay freshman since 1993 MVC Freshman of the Year Becky Flynn scored 28 against Bradley on March 1, 1993.
Career Game for Voss
Junior center Kristina Voss scored a career-high 21 points and added a then career-best 13 points for her first collegiate double-double at Southern Illinois (Jan. 20). Voss also played a career-high 36 minutes in the overtime defeat.
Dynamic Duo
Kristina Voss and Kelsey Woodard combined to have career games against Southern Illinois. Voss scored a career-best 21 points and Woodard had a career-high 25 points. The duo became the first pair of Bluejays to score 20 in the same game since Ally Thrall and Woodard's older sister, Kristi, both topped 20 against Wichita State on Jan. 7, 2006.
Working Overtime
Two of Creighton's first five MVC games went into overtime. The Bluejays topped Missouri State 79-73 (Jan. 6) at home in their first OT game, while they fell at SIU (Jan. 20) 75-74 in their second. The win over MSU was CU's first overtime win since 2006. The Jays went 0-2 in overtime last year. The Jays are now 8-5 in overtime games under Jim Flanery (since 2002-03).
It's Crowded in Here
A hot start, a rivalry game and a pregame promotion at the Omaha Civic Auditorium had the fans turning out for the Creighton-Drake game on Jan. 12. The crowd of 2,437 was the 10th largest crowd in school history and the first crowd of more than 2,000 in three years at a CU home game. It was CU's largest crowd turnout since the 2004 WNIT Championship game, when 4,180 fans showed up to watch the Jays crush UNLV 73-52.
Thoughts on Thrall
Ally Thrall poured in a career-high 23 points, including seven of CU's eight overtime points, in the Jays win over Missouri State (Jan. 6). She surpassed 900 career points on Jan. 6 and is on pace to become the 19th player in school history to surpass 1,000 career points.
Woodard's Double-Double
Freshman Kelsey Woodard recorded her first career double-double against Missouri State (Jan. 6). She drained four three-pointers for 12 points and added a career-high 10 rebounds for the double-dime. Three of her 10 boards were offensive and came in OT.
That's the Best Since ...
In CU's dominating 83-47 home win over Wichita State on Jan. 4, the Bluejays put up impressive numbers. The 36-point margin of victory was CU's largest ever in an MVC opener, while it was the Jays' largest margin of victory since beating Missouri State by 37, 84-47, on Jan. 6, 2002. CU's 52 rebounds were the most in a game since grabbing 53 against Louisiana Monroe on Dec. 10, 2005. CU's 27 assists were the most by a Bluejay team since dishing 27 against Northern Iowa on Feb. 24, 1994.
Woodard Named Newcomer Again
For the third time this season, Kelsey Woodard was named the MVC Newcomer of the Week on Jan. 7. The rookie averaged 12.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in her first two conference games, leading the team with 13 points against Wichita State (Jan. 4) and then notching her first career double-double with 12 points and career-high 10 rebounds against Missouri State (Jan. 6).
Freshmen Lead the Way in MVC Debut
The freshman duo of Kellie Nelson and Kelsey Woodard impressed in their MVC debut against Wichita State (Jan. 4). Woodard led the Bluejays with 13 points off the bench, draining her first three three-pointers and finishing 3-for-5 from beyond the arc, while adding five rebounds and four assists. Nelson also came off the bench and scored a career-high 11 points, making 5-of-6 free-throws.
That's Helpful
Creighton dished a season-high 27 assists on its 30 field goals against Wichita State (Jan. 4), the most assists in a game by the Bluejays in 14 years. Four Bluejays had at least four assists in the game, led by Ally Thrall's six. Sam Schuett, Kelsey Woodard and Kelsey Crites each had four helpers in the win, while 10 of 11 Jays recorded an assist in the victory.
By the Boards
Creighton's 52 rebounds against Wichita State (Jan. 4) were its most in over two years. Sam Schuett led the team with 10 caroms, while Sara Cain tied her career-high with nine boards. Kelsey Crites grabbed a career-best eight rebounds.
More Rebounds Than Points Allowed
Creighton pulled off a rare feat in its dismantling of Wichita State on Jan. 4 as the Bluejays pulled down more rebounds than points allowed. CU had 52 rebounds, while allowing just 47 points scored. The Jays also accomplished this in a 47-46 win at Indiana State on Feb. 8, 2004, when they grabbed 48 rebounds in that victory.
Thrall For Three (x 5)
Ally Thrall established a career-high by making five three-pointers against Kansas State (Dec. 18). She was perfect from long range, making all five of her attempts in the first half. It marked the best three-point shooting day by a Bluejay since CU's all-time leading scorer and three-point specialist Kathy Halligan went 5-for-5 from long range on Feb. 20, 1992 against BYU. Below are the best three-point shooting games since that Halligan game.
Perfect 3-Point Games Since 1991-92
(at least four attempts)
Name 3FG-A Opponent, Date
Ally Thrall 5-5 Kansas St., 12/18/07
L. Spanheimer 4-4 Bradley, 1/30/05
L. Spanheimer 4-4 Oregon St., 12/2/04
Jenny Burns 4-4 Drake, 2/23/03
L. Spanheimer 4-4 Iowa, 12/8/02
Dayna Finch 4-4 Northwestern, 12/10/00
Missy Miller 4-4 Wyoming, 12/7/92
Kathy Halligan 4-4 Wyoming, 3/3/92
Kathy Halligan 5-5 BYU, 2/20/92
Strong Schedule, High RPI
For the second straight year, Creighton has compiled the strongest non-conference schedule in the MVC. CU's strength of schedule (SOS) ranked 53rd on www.collegerpi.com (through games played on Jan. 1). The average non-conference SOS of the other nine teams in the MVC was 158. In the first NCAA RPI report, the Bluejays ranked atop the MVC with an RPI of 49, with Illinois State close behind at 53.
Winning Non-Conference Record
At 7-4, the Bluejays had a winning non-conference record for the first time since going 6-3 in 2004-05 season. The Jays were 2-7 against non-conference foes in 2005-06 and went 3-8 out of conference last year. The Jays went 7-2 in the non-conference schedule before MVC play in the 2002-03 season.
Not Half Bad
Creighton shot better than 50 percent from the field and from three-point range in its win over Kansas State (Dec. 18), the first time the Jays have topped both numbers in the same game since topping Memphis 89-79 on Dec. 6, 2006.
50-50
CU shot 51.1 percent from the field against Kansas State (Dec. 18), marking the 13th time since 2002-03 the Jays have made at least half of their shots. The Jays are now 13-1 when making 50 percent of their shots or better under Jim Flanery, after shooting 50.9 percent against Illinois State (Feb. 2). CU shot 57.1 percent from three-point range, the 12th game under Flanery the Jays have made at least half of their long range shots, improving to 9-3 in such games.
Ten Straight Makes
Creighton shot a season-high 51.1 percent from the field in its win over Kansas State (Dec. 18). Helping the cause was a span in the second half when the Bluejays made 10 straight field goals without a miss. Sara Cain and Kristina Voss had three straight baskets each during the run that put CU up by 20 with 7:27 left in the game.
Woodard Named Newcomer of the Week
For the second time in the first six weeks of the season, freshman Kelsey Woodard was named the MVC Newcomer of the Week (Dec. 17). The rookie led a near-upset for the Bluejays at Iowa State (Dec. 16), scoring the final eight points of the first half to cap an 18-3 CU run, giving the Jays a 28-22 lead. She finished with a team-high 12 points, making 3-of-4 field goals and 2-of-3 three-pointers, while adding a pair of assists and rebounds.
Streak Stops With Broken Record
Sam Schuett set a school record earlier this year by making her first 22 free-throw attempts of the season. Just one game after Schuett's streak ended, Kelsey Woodard surpassed Schuett and made her 23rd straight freebie to start the season, before missing her final two free-throw attempts at Iowa State (Dec. 16). Woodard also established the school record for consecutive free-throw makes to start a career.
Schuett is Player of the Week, Dec. 10
Sam Schuett became the first Bluejay to be named the MVC Player of the Week since current graduate manager Kristi Woodard earned the honor Jan. 9, 2006. Schuett earned the honor after putting up 16 points, eight rebounds, career-high six assists, three steals and a blocked shot at Denver (Dec. 5). Schuett is the first CU sophomore to earn the honor since Woodard did so on Jan. 12, 2004.
Holy Schuett
With a career-high 30 points at Nebraska (Nov. 30), sophomore Sam Schuett became the first Bluejay to score 30 points since Angie Janis scored 30 against Bradley on March 2, 2006. Schuett made a career-high 11 field goals in the game, including the first 10 she attempted. Her 11 field goals in the game are the most by a player in the MVC this season. She was the first Bluejay to score 30 on the road and against a non-conference opponent since Laura Spanheimer had 31 at Oregon State on Dec. 2, 2004. No CU sophomore had scored 30 points since Christy Neneman poured in 39 against Drake on March 9, 2002 in the MVC Tournament title game.
Double Your Pleasure
As if exploding for a career-best 30 points in a game wasn't enough, Sam Schuett added a game-high 10 rebounds for her first, and the team's first, double-double of the year at Nebraska (Nov. 30).
Start Me Up
Creighton opened the year 4-1 this season, its best five-game start since 2000. Last year the Bluejays started 0-7 and did not capture their fourth win of the season until Jan. 6. CU went 4-3 this November, its most wins in November since 1985.
Tournament Champions
Creighton captured the tournament title at the Rocky Mountain Invitational in Fort Collins, Colo. (Nov. 23-24). The Bluejays topped Kent State 71-57 and host Colorado State 78-56 to win the event. Sara Cain averaged 12 points and 6.5 rebounds per game to earn tournament MVP honors, while Sam Schuett added 11.5 points per game to earn all-tourney recognition. It was CU's first in-season tournament title since winning the InnSuites Classic in Flagstaff, Ariz., in 1998.
We'll Take That
The Bluejays forced a season-high 29 turnovers against Memphis (Nov. 19) and followed by forcing 25 turnovers against Kent State (Nov. 23). The 54 turnovers in a two-game span are the most under Jim Flanery and the most since the 1999 team swiped a combined 55 in a two-game span against USC and Wyoming.
Out of Action
The Jays have lost two players for the season due knee injuries, marking the third straight season knee problems have forced a Bluejay to miss the season. This year, junior Chevelle Herring and freshman Abby Henry are both out for the year due to injuries. Herring had surgery on an injured knee in early November, while Henry suffered a torn ACL in preseason practice. Last year Kelsey Crites went down with a torn ACL in the sixth game of the year and earned a medical redshirt. In 2005-06, Megan Neuvirth suffered a knee injury in the first official practice of the fall and missed the season. Herring and Henry will apply for medical redshirts at the end of the year.
90 for 90
Creighton scored 90 points against Memphis (Nov. 19) and helped head coach Jim Flanery capture his 90th career win. It was the sixth time under Flanery the Jays have scored at least 90, improving to 6-0 when reaching that mark since 2002-03.
More High Water Marks
In addition to being the largest margin of victory (33) and the most points scored by the Bluejay bench (50) in the Flanery era, the 48 points CU scored in the paint against Memphis on Nov. 19 were the most under Flanery. CU also forced 29 turnovers in the game, tying the high mark for a Flanery team set against Southern Illinois on Jan. 16, 2003. The Bluejays scored 36 points off the 29 turnovers, the second-most points off turnovers under Flanery, as the Jays scored 39 points off of Evansville turnovers on Feb. 13, 2003.
Shooting Woes at Rutgers
The Bluejays lost 62-43 at No. 6 Rutgers (Nov. 16). CU shot just 22 percent in the loss, its worst shooting performance since shooting 19.7 percent at Northwestern on Nov. 21, 2003.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
