Friday, February 29
Omaha Civic Auditorium
7:35 PM
Creighton University
80
vs
77
Illinois State
Seniors Lead Bluejays to Sweep of First-Place Illinois State
2/29/2008 11:15:00 PM | Women's Basketball
OMAHA, Neb. ? Seniors Sara Cain and Ally Thrall put together career games to lead the Creighton women's basketball team past first-place Illinois State 80-77 in overtime Friday night at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. Cain had 15 points and a career-high 14 rebounds for her first career double-double and Thrall poured in a career-high 26 points to help Creighton (17-9, 10-5 MVC) overcome a 12-point deficit and sweep the regular-season series from the Redbirds (22-4, 12-3 MVC).
Creighton trailed by seven with 3:31 to play in regulation after an Ashleen Bracey layup put ISU ahead 65-58. The Jays scored the next seven points, capped by a game-tying three-pointer by Thrall with 1:02 on the clock. After ISU missed a shot on their next possession, 2007 MVC Player of the Year Kristi Cirone swiped the ball from freshman Kelsey Woodard and drove in for a layup with 13 seconds left to put ISU ahead 67-65.
Thrall missed a game-tying attempt, but Megan Neuvirth was there to put the tip-in through the rim with seven seconds to play and Maggie Krick's three-point attempt at the buzzer was blocked by Woodard to send the game to overtime even at 67.
There were six lead changes in the first 2:40 of overtime, with ISU taking a 75-74 lead on Shala Jackson's traditional three-point play with 2:20 to go. A pair of Nicolle Lewis free-throws gave ISU a 77-74 lead with 1:54 to play, but the Jays would score the final six points of the game for the victory. Thrall knocked down a pair of free-throws at 1:04 to draw CU within one and after an ISU turnover, Cain put back an offensive rebound to put the Jays up 78-77 with 21 seconds to play.
ISU had a chance to win the game, but Bracey turned the ball over to Thrall and the CU senior capped her career night with two more free-throws to ice the victory with five seconds to play and Cirone's desperation three at the buzzer drew iron.
Thrall launched a career-high 23 shot attempts to reach her career-high point total. The point guard went 3-for-7 from three-point range and 5-for-6 at the free-throw line. Cain was 5-for-10 from the field, including 2-for-3 beyond the arc and 3-for-3 at the line for her 15 points. Woodard added 19 points.
Four Redbirds scored in double figures, led by Cirone's 17. Krick added 16, Jackson finished with 13 and Lewis 12.
CU out-rebounded ISU 43-35 and out-scored the Redbirds 20-9 on second-chance points, including the game-tying bucket at the end of regulation and the go-ahead score in the final 30 seconds of overtime.
The Bluejays will play host to Indiana State Sunday afternoon in their regular-season home finale. Cain and Thrall will be honored in post game Senior Day ceremonies. The Jays and Sycamores tip off at 1:05 p.m. on ESPNU Sunday. The game can also be heard live on Spirit 88.9 FM and online at www.kvss.com.
Creighton trailed by seven with 3:31 to play in regulation after an Ashleen Bracey layup put ISU ahead 65-58. The Jays scored the next seven points, capped by a game-tying three-pointer by Thrall with 1:02 on the clock. After ISU missed a shot on their next possession, 2007 MVC Player of the Year Kristi Cirone swiped the ball from freshman Kelsey Woodard and drove in for a layup with 13 seconds left to put ISU ahead 67-65.
Thrall missed a game-tying attempt, but Megan Neuvirth was there to put the tip-in through the rim with seven seconds to play and Maggie Krick's three-point attempt at the buzzer was blocked by Woodard to send the game to overtime even at 67.
There were six lead changes in the first 2:40 of overtime, with ISU taking a 75-74 lead on Shala Jackson's traditional three-point play with 2:20 to go. A pair of Nicolle Lewis free-throws gave ISU a 77-74 lead with 1:54 to play, but the Jays would score the final six points of the game for the victory. Thrall knocked down a pair of free-throws at 1:04 to draw CU within one and after an ISU turnover, Cain put back an offensive rebound to put the Jays up 78-77 with 21 seconds to play.
ISU had a chance to win the game, but Bracey turned the ball over to Thrall and the CU senior capped her career night with two more free-throws to ice the victory with five seconds to play and Cirone's desperation three at the buzzer drew iron.
Thrall launched a career-high 23 shot attempts to reach her career-high point total. The point guard went 3-for-7 from three-point range and 5-for-6 at the free-throw line. Cain was 5-for-10 from the field, including 2-for-3 beyond the arc and 3-for-3 at the line for her 15 points. Woodard added 19 points.
Four Redbirds scored in double figures, led by Cirone's 17. Krick added 16, Jackson finished with 13 and Lewis 12.
CU out-rebounded ISU 43-35 and out-scored the Redbirds 20-9 on second-chance points, including the game-tying bucket at the end of regulation and the go-ahead score in the final 30 seconds of overtime.
The Bluejays will play host to Indiana State Sunday afternoon in their regular-season home finale. Cain and Thrall will be honored in post game Senior Day ceremonies. The Jays and Sycamores tip off at 1:05 p.m. on ESPNU Sunday. The game can also be heard live on Spirit 88.9 FM and online at www.kvss.com.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballCreighton VB vs Marquette Recap video
Tuesday, October 07
Creighton VB vs DePaul Recap Video
Tuesday, October 07
Ava Martin Highlights - Oct. 6, 2025
Monday, October 06
Kiara Reinhardt Highlights - Oct. 6, 2025
Monday, October 06
