Bluejays Host UNO in First Women's Basketball Game at D.J. Sokol Arena
11/4/2009 11:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Exhibition vs. Nebraska-Omaha • Thursday, Nov. 5 • 7:05 p.m.
Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks at Creighton Bluejays
Ryan Athletic Center & D.J. Sokol Arena • Omaha, Neb.
Regular-Season Series History: UNO leads 16-9
Last Exh. Meeting: Creighton won 93-68, Nov. 4, 2008
• Live stats for this game and all home games can be found on the CU athletics website at www.gocreighton.com.
• Live video for all home games will be available for an annual fee of $69.95 or a monthly fee of $11.95. More information is available at www.gocreighton.com.
• This game will not be broadcast on radio, but 27 of 28 regular-season games will be carried on KOIL AM 1180 and on the internet at www.koilam1180.com.
• The game marks the first ever basketball contest played at D.J. Sokol Arena and the first on-campus basketball game for the Bluejays since an exhibition against a Lithuanian team on Nov. 7, 2001 at the Vinardi Athletic Center.
• Creighton has played “home” games at 11 venues in the Omaha area, including two on-campus gyms, since its first women's basketball season in 1973-74.
• CU opens the regular-season Friday, Nov. 13 against Arkansas State – the second straight season-opener against ASU and fourth consecutive against a Sun Belt team from Ark.
• Creighton is 12-0 in exhibition games under head coach Jim Flanery and the Jays have not lost a preseason game since 2000 - a streak of 15 straight wins.
• Creighton is playing just one exhibition game for the third time in the last four seasons. CU did play in a closed door scrimmage at Iowa on Sunday, November 1.
• CU defeated UNO 93-68 in exhibition play last year. Megan Neuvirth had 14 points, 14 rebounds, eight assists and five steals in the victory.
Scouting the Bluejays
The Bluejays are the preseason favorites in the MVC, earning 34 of 40 first-place votes in the official Valley poll ... Creighton returns seven letterwinners and four starters from last year's team which finished 22-12 and 14-4 (2nd place) in the MVC ... The Jays advanced to the second round of the WNIT for the second straight season last year and played in the event for the fifth time in seven years ... CU led the MVC and ranked eighth in the NCAA with just 13.5 turnovers per game last year ... CU's 56 points allowed per game were fewest in the MVC, ranked 31st in the NCAA and marked the Jays' best team defense since the 1977-78 team ... The Jays also led the MVC with 226 three-pointers last year ... The Jays return three of the top nine scorers in the MVC, including 2009-10 MVC Preseason Player of the Year, senior forward Megan Neuvirth ... Neuvirth, the reigning MVC Defensive Player of the Year, set a school record with 325 rebounds last year, leading the league in rebounds and steals per game, while also topping the team in assists, blocked shots and double-doubles ... Senior point guard Chevelle Herring led the team with 13 ppg last year and was tabbed second-team all-MVC ... Junior guard Kelsey Woodard topped the MVC in minutes per game (37.6) and three-pointers made (88) ... Junior forward Sam Schuett returns after a medical redshirt season in 2008-09.
Scouting the Mavericks
UNO went 15-12 last year, including a sixth-place finish at 11-9 in the MIAA (its first winning conference record in 17 seasons) ... The Mavericks return two starters and just 32 percent of last year's scoring, including Alyssa Green's 11.1 points per game ... Green also led UNO in assists and steals last year ... The Mavs are predicted to finish seventh in both MIAA preseason polls this year ... UNO's roster has five freshmen on a team of 11.
The Coaches
Jim Flanery (Creighton, 1987) has led his team to five WNIT postseason appearances and four 20-win seasons in his first seven seasons at Creighton, where he is now 131-92 (.587) as a head coach. In 2003 he became the winningest rookie coach in school and MVC history and led the Jays to the 2004 WNIT Championship. Prior to serving as CU's head coach, Flanery served as CU's top assistant for a decade. Patty Patton Shearer (Rocky Mountain College, 1990) enters her sixth season at UNO with with a 82-61 (.573) mark and is in her 10th season as a head coach with a mark of 142-110 (.563).
Recent Exhibition History
The Bluejays are 19-1 in their last 20 exhibition contests, dating back to 1998.
Exhibition Results
11-04-98 Creighton 76, Lithuania 57
11-10-98 Creighton 86, Neb. All Stars 67
11-03-99 Creighton 89, Neb. All Stars 73
11-09-99 Creighton 89, Latvia 67
11-07-00 Latvia 70, Creighton 55
11-12-00 Creighton 75, Nebraska-Omaha 63
11-04-01 Creighton 85, Nebraska-Omaha 57
11-07-01 Creighton 100, Lithuania 48
11-04-02 Creighton 86, Team Concept 64
11-10-02 Creighton 98, Nebraska-Omaha 61
11-01-03 Creighton 64, South Dakota 54
11-09-03 Creighton 82, Nebraska-Kearney 75
11-01-04 Creighton 80, South Dakota 54
11-06-04 Creighton 87, Nebraska-Kearney 57
11-06-05 Creighton 82, Central Missouri 74
11-12-05 Creighton 81, South Dakota 48
11-05-06 Creighton 83, South Dakota 74
11-01-07 Creighton 88, Central Missouri 48
11-04-08 Creighton 93, Nebraska-Omaha 68
11-08-08 Creighton 78, Central Missouri 56
Last Year vs. UNO
Creighton topped UNO 93-68 on Nov. 4, 2008 in exhibition play. The Jays were led by Megan Neuvirth's 14 points, 14 rebounds, eight assists and five steals. Kelsey Woodard was 5-of-10 from three-point range and topped the team with 19 points. Kellie Nelson tied a career-best with 16 points, while Kelsey Crites was 6-for-7 from the floor for a career-high 14 points. Chevelle Herring added 13 points. The Jays shot 50.7 percent from the floor and 31.8 percent from long range (7-22).
Preseason Picks
The Bluejays have been picked as the preseason favorites in the MVC preseason poll as voted on by league coaches, media and sports information directors. CU received 34 of a possible 40 first-place votes and 393 of 400 points in the poll. This marks just the third time in 18 seasons as MVC members that the Jays are preseason favorites. CU was picked to win the title in 2002-03 and would go on to share the regular-season crown that year. The 1994-95 team was also picked first, but would finish fourth.
About the New Facility
Creighton will play all of its home games at the Wayne and Eileen Ryan Athletic Center and D.J. Sokol Arena this year, a 75,600 square-foot facility which seats approximately 2,950 fans. In addition to the arena, the facility also includes a locker room, weight room and training room for the student-athletes and houses coaches' offices, meeting rooms, athletic staff offices, a media work room and much more.
The First Since Our Last
Creighton's exhibition with UNO will be the Bluejays' first game played on campus since a 100-48 exhibition victory over a Lithuanian team on Nov. 7, 2001 in the Vinardi Athletic Center (Old Gym). Current assistant coaches Jenny (Burns) Vickers and Dayna Finch both played in that contest.
Homecoming
On Friday, Nov. 13, Creighton will play a regular-season home game on campus for the first time since the 1991-92 season, when that squad played four of its 14 home games at the Vinardi Athletic Center (Old Gym). The last regular-season game played on Creighton's campus was an 81-69 win over Wyoming on March 7, 1992 in the Old Gym.
Home is Where the Wins Are
Creighton went 12-4 at home last year and is 72-24 (.750) at home under Jim Flanery. The Jays are 66-20 (.767) all-time in regular-season games on-campus (26-12 at the Kiewit Fitness Center and 40-8 in the Vinardi Athletic Center). The Bluejays played 301 of their 428 recorded home games at the Omaha Civic Auditorium where they posted a 213-88 (.708) record.
They're Back
The Bluejays return seven letterwinners and four starters, while losing just one major contributor from last season's team. Senior Chevelle Herring, senior Megan Neuvirth and junior Kelsey Woodard started all 34 games for the Bluejays last year, while senior Kelsey Crites (11) and sophomore DaNae Moore (18) split starting duties at guard, with Crites closing the year in the starting line up. Kristina Voss started 31 of the 34 games and is the only major loss from last year's team.
Don't Forget Sam
The Jays also return starting forward Sam Schuett who missed all of last season after suffering an ankle injury in practice on Oct. 31. The redshirt junior led the Jays and ranked fourth in the MVC in rebounding with 6.8 boards per game as a sophomore in 2007-08.
Playing the Percentages
The Bluejays return 83.9 percent of their scoring from last year, including three of the MVC's top-nine scorers from 2008-09. They return 84.0 percent of their rebounding from last year – and will also welcome 2007-08 leading rebounder Sam Schuett back to the line up after a medical redshirt season. They also bring back 88.2 percent of their assists from last year.
Welcome to Creighton
The Bluejays welcome two freshmen to the team this season. Jasmin Corbin is a Omaha Millard West product, where the 5-foot-6 guard played for one season alongside redshirt junior Sam Schuett. Ally Jensen, from Ames, Iowa, attended Ballard High School, where the 5-foot-7 guard owns school records for career three-pointers (220) and steals (261).
More on Megan
Senior Megan Neuvirth, the MVC Preseason Player of the Year, was named the 2008-09 MVC Defensive Player of the Year, All-MVC First Team, MVC All-Defensive Team and MVC All-Tournament Team after leading the MVC in both steals (83) and rebounds (325).
• Her 325 boards established a school record (by 65) and ranked eighth in single-season history in the MVC.
• She was one of five players in the NCAA to rank in the top-50 in steals and rebounds per game.
• In addition to leading the team in steals and rebounds, Neuvirth also topped the team in assists (96), blocked shots (34) and double-doubles (9) – the most double-dimes by a Bluejay since the 1990-91 season.
• She enters her senior season ranked sixth in school history with 211 career steals and seventh with 714 career rebounds – both are tops among active MVC players.
Trio For 1,000?
Chevelle Herring (441), Megan Neuvirth (438) and Kelsey Woodard (438) accounted for 64.5 percent of Creighton's scoring last year (1,317 of 2,040 points). Each member of the trio enters 2009-10 on pace to surpass the 1,000 career point mark. Neuvirth leads the way with 847 career points, followed by Herring's 831 and Woodard's 780. No Bluejay trio has ever surpassed the 1,000 point plateau in the same season.
Chevy Keeps Rolling
Senior Chevelle Herring was honored on the All-MVC Second Team last year after leading the team and ranking sixth in the MVC with 13 points per game. Chevy ranked second on the team in three-pointers made (64), assists (93), steals (45) and free-throw percentage (72.6).
Kelsey Can Shoot
Junior Kelsey Woodard was named honorable-mention All-MVC and to the MVC All-Tournament Team last year after leading the conference with 88 three-pointers made and 37.6 minutes played per game. Her 88 treys were the fourth most in school history and ranked fifth in single-season MVC history. Woodard's 2.6 threes per game ranked 21st in the NCAA and her 140 career treys already ranks eighth in school history. Her 84.6 free-throw percentage led the team and was the fifth-best percentage in school history.
Another Tough Schedule
Creighton again plays one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the MVC, facing four Big 12 teams, a Big East squad and an Atlantic-10 foe. The Jays play host to 2009 Final Four participant Oklahoma on Dec. 20 – the third Bluejay opponent to come to Omaha this decade following a Final Four run the previous season (2001 Final Four - Missouri State, 2004 Final Four - Minnesota).
Nebraska Natives
Seven of Creighton's 10 players on this year's roster are from Nebraska, including all five in the projected starting line up. Bellevue natives Chevelle Herring (East) and Kelsey Woodard (West), Omaha products Jasmin Corbin (Millard West) 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 last year 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).
The 20-20-20 Precedent
Creighton has won at least 20 games in each of its previous two seasons. Taking a look at CU history, every time the Jays have won 20 games in a season, it has come in groups of at least three – winning at least 20 in three straight years (1985-87), four straight years (1991-94), three straight years (2002-04) and now two straight (2008-09) – setting a standard for this year's team to live up to.
Neuvirth Sets Rebounding Record
Senior Megan Neuvirth crushed the Creighton rebounding record last year, logging 325 boards – far surpassing Janet Ensign's former mark of 260 set in 1986-87. Her 325 caroms tied for eighth in a season in MVC history, becoming just the 10th player in league history with 300 boards in a season. Neuvirth's 9.6 rebounding average was the highest rebounding average by a Bluejay since Cathy Tryon's 9.6 per game in 1979-80.
MVC Single-Season Rebounds
No. Player, School Season
1. 534 Wanda Ford, Drake 1984-85
2. 506 Wanda Ford, Drake 1985-86
3. 408 Wanda Ford, Drake 1983-84
4. 367 Wanda Ford, Drake 1982-83
5. 366 Angela Buckner, WSU 2001-02
6. 341 Alex Cook, UNI 2001-02
341 Angela Buckner, WSU 2000-01
8. 325 Megan Neuvirth, CU 2008-09
325 Amy Rackers, SIU 1989-90
10. 320 Roshonda Reed, MSU 1998-99
200 Three-Pointers
Creighton led the MVC with 226 three-point field goals made last year, marking the second straight season the Jays had eclipsed 200 treys. The Jays have now made 200 three-pointers six times in school history (1990, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008), four of which have come since Jim Flanery took over the team in 2002-03.
All Good Streaks Must Come to an End
Creighton posted an 11-game winning streak last year – the longest under Jim Flanery and best since the 1991-92 team set the school record with 16 straight victories.
Longest Winning Streaks at CU
16 Jan. 30, 1992 – March 18, 1992
13 Dec. 15, 1990 – Jan. 26, 1991
12 Nov. 30, 1991 – Jan. 23, 1992
11 Jan. 8, 2009 – Feb. 14, 2009
11 Jan. 2, 1986 – Feb. 8, 1986
10 Jan. 14, 2002 – Feb. 17, 2002
10 Dec. 30, 1993 – Jan. 29, 1994
Longest Valley Streak
All of Creighton's 11 wins during its streak came in MVC play, the longest Valley streak in school history, surpassing the 2002 MVC champions who won 10 straight. The 1992 squad won 12 consecutive conference games as a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).
