Women's Basketball Plays at No. 23 Kansas Sunday
12/11/2009 3:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Creighton Bluejays at #23 Kansas Jayhawks
Allen Fieldhouse • Lawrence, Kan.
Radio: 1180 AM, www.koilam1180.com • Video: www.gocreighton.com
Series History: Kansas leads 19-12
Last Meeting: Kansas won 79-64, March 23, 2009 in Lawrence
• The game can be heard on KOIL AM 1180 in Omaha and online at www.koilam1180.com. Brad Burwell and Rob Simms will call the action.
• Live stats and live video for this game and select road games can be found on the CU athletics website at www.gocreighton.com.
• Creighton's 5-1 start was its best six-game start under head coach Jim Flanery.
• Creighton started the week ranked second in the NCAA with 10.5 three-pointers per game and 19th with a 39.4 3FG percentage.
• The Bluejays tied a school record with 16 three-point field goals at UC Davis (Nov. 27), while their 41 3FG attempts set a CU mark and tied the MVC record.
• Ally Jensen has tied a school record by making a three-pointer in seven consecutive games to start her career. She leads the team and is second in the MVC, shooting 48.1 percent (13-27) from three-point range.
• Megan Neuvirth logged her 14th career double-double on Wednesday at Nebraska, with 25 points and 12 rebounds.
• Chevelle Herring scored a career-high 31 points against Kansas last December 13, making 11-of-18 field goals and 7-of-9 free-throws.
• Creighton is 12-19 all-time against Kansas, losing the last five meetings after a five-game winning streak in the series.
Scouting the Bluejays
The Bluejays are the preseason favorites in the MVC (34 of 40 first-place votes) ... Creighton returns seven letterwinners and four starters from last year's team which finished 22-12, advancing to the WNIT for the fifth time in seven years ... 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. The reigning MVC Defensive Player of the Year, she set a school record with 325 rebounds last year and leads all active MVC players in career rebounds (763) and career steals (231) and tops the team with 14.7 points per game ... Senior point guard Chevelle Herring, a second-team all-MVC honoree last year, leads the team with 3.4 assists per game ... Junior guard Kelsey Woodard leads the MVC in three-point field goals per game and is 22-for-53 (.415) from beyond the arc ... Junior forward Sam Schuett has returned after a medical redshirt season in 2008-09, and is leading the team with 8.0 rebounds per game.
Scouting the Jayhawks
No. 23 Kansas is 6-2 on the year and 5-0 at home ... KU was picked to finish second in the Big 12, earning three first place votes ... The Jayhawks are shooting 47 percent from the field, 39.8 percent from three-point range and 67.9 percent at the free-throw line ... National Player of the Year Candidate Danielle McCray leads the team with 19.3 points per game ... Krysten Boogaard adds 14.1 points and 6.8 rebounds, while Aishah Sutherland contributes 13.4 points and team-best 7.3 boards ... Redshirt freshman Angel Goodrich leads the team with 8.4 assists per game.
The Coaches
Jim Flanery (Creighton, 1987) is in his eighth season as head coach, where he has led his team to five WNIT postseason appearances and four 20-win seasons. He owns a career record of 136-94 (.591). 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. He is 2-5 all-time against Kansas and 8-20 against the Big 12. Bonnie Henrickson (St. Cloud State, 1986) is in her sixth season at Kansas, where she is 85-81 (.512). Prior to KU, Henrickson was head coach at Virginia Tech for seven seasons. Her career record in her 13th season as a head coach is 243-143 (.630).
Creighton-Kansas Series History
Kansas ranks behind Nebraska as the second-most played non-conference opponent in Creighton history, as the Jays and Jayhawks meet for the 32nd time this week. CU trails the all-time series 12-19, including 5-11 all-time in Lawrence. KU has won the last five meetings overall, including a 59-58 overtime win in Omaha last Dec. 13 and a 79-64 win in the WNIT last March. Prior to the current five-game skid against KU, the Jays had won five straight in the series. They last won in Lawrence on Dec. 14, 2002.
Last Year against Kansas
The Jayhawks topped the Bluejays twice last season, needing overtime to get by the Jays 59-58 on Dec. 13 in Omaha and cruising to a 79-64 win in the second round of the WNIT in March to end Creighton's season. Chevelle Herring scored a career-high 31 points against KU in the regular-season, making a career-best 11 field goals and playing all 45 minutes in the one-point loss. The Jays played without starting center Kristina Voss in the regular-season loss, while Kelsey Woodard also missed extended time in the defeat while having a cut above her eye stitched during the game. CU then surrendered a season-high 79 points in its season-ending loss at KU. CU scored the first six points, while KU missed its first seven shots in the game. The Jayhawks made 15 of its next 25 shots however to claim a 38-21 halftime lead. Danielle McCray had 25 points and 13 boards to lead KU, while Aishah Sutherland added career-highs with 15 points and 12 rebounds for her first career double-double. Four Jays scored in double figures, led by Woodard's 15 points.
Individuals vs. Kansas
Even with her career-high 31 points against Kansas last Dec. 13, Chevelle Herring averages just 11 points per game in her career against KU (14.7 ppg in games she played more than 60 seconds). Last year she averaged 18 points per meeting and is now shooting 45.2 percent (14-31) from the field and 73.7 percent (14-19) from the line against KU in her career, just 2-of-7 (.286) from long range. Sam Schuett, who missed both of last year's games, averages 9.0 ppg and is 8-for-8 at the free-throw line against KU. Megan Neuvirth averages 8.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.3 steals per game, but has made just 8-of-46 (.174) field goals against Kansas. Kellie Nelson chips in 6.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game against the Jayhawks.
Beating the Big 12
Creighton is in the midst of a three game stretch against ranked Big 12 opponents. Last year the Bluejays went 0-6 against the Big 12, but defeated Kansas State 63-54 last month to snap the six-game losing streak. After Wednesday's loss at Nebraska, CU is 8-20 against the Big 12 under Jim Flanery – Colorado 2-0; Iowa State 0-2; Kansas 2-5; Kansas State 2-4; Missouri 0-1; Nebraska 2-6; Oklahoma 0-1; Texas Tech 0-1.
Pulling Rank
Kansas is the second of three straight AP top-25 teams the Jays will face this month. Creighton was 0-2 against ranked teams last year, and 0-1 this year after falling at Nebraska on Wednesday. The Jays snapped a 13-game losing streak against the AP top-25 with a 75-71 win at No. 24 Illinois State on February 2, 2008. The victory marked CU's first win over an AP top-25 team since Dec. 7, 1999. The Jays are 1-10 against the top-25 under Jim Flanery.
Herring Against the All-Big 12
In five regular-season games against the Big 12 last year, Chevelle Herring averaged 22.6 points. In each of the five games, she was the game's high-scorer, establishing a career-high in three games. She averaged 40.2 minutes per game, while shooting 44.4 percent (12-27) from three-point range and 77.8 percent (21-27) at the free-throw line. Herring scored 31 points against Kansas, 24 points against Iowa State and 23 against Kansas State. In two games against Big 12 foes this year, Herring is just 4-of-17 (.235) from the field, 2-for-5 (.400) from three-point range and averaging 6.0 points and 3.0 turnovers per game.
Jensen Ties School Record
Freshman Ally Jensen, who opened the week leading all NCAA freshman in three-point field goal percentage, has tied a school record. By making a three-point field goal in each of her first seven career games, she has equalled the school mark established by Laura Spanheimer in 2001-02. Jensen ranked 10th in the NCAA – tops among all freshmen – shooting 54.5 percent from three-point range in the most recent national rankings.
Hot Starts
Creighton is off to one of its best starts in eight seasons under head coach Jim Flanery. It's 5-1 start was its best start through six games since the 2000-01 team opened 5-1. At 5-2, the Jays have matched the 2002-03 team, which went on to open the year 9-2. Of the previous seven teams to open the season with at least four wins in their first five games, six have gone on to win at least 20 games.
Neuvirth's Double-Double
Megan Neuvirth grabbed her 14th career double-double, first of the season, at Nebraska on Wednesday night, finishing one point shy of a career-high with 25 points and 12 rebounds. Her 11 field goals and 21 field goal attempts were both career-highs, as she single-handedly kept the Bluejays in the game. It was her second straight 20-point game, averaging 22.5 points in her last two outings.
Where We Rank
The Bluejays have made 69 three-pointers through seven games this season, averaging 9.9 per game to lead the MVC – after starting the week ranked second in the NCAA with 10.5 per game. Ally Jensen ranked 10th in the NCAA – tops among every freshman in the nation – shooting 54.5 percent from three-point range to start the week. Kelsey Woodard leads the team and MVC with her 3.1 three-pointers per game, which ranked the junior guard 15th in the NCAA to start week. The Bluejays ranked 19th in the nation with a 39.4 three-point field goal percentage to open the week.
The Ally Way
Freshman Ally Jensen has made at least one three-pointer in each of her first seven collegiate games and she is leading the team and ranks second in the MVC shooting 48.1 percent from long range, 13-of-27. See the charts below comparing the start of her career to the top-six three-point shooters in school history and the top starts by freshmen under Jim Flanery.
Most Points to Start Career Under Flanery
Player Points in First 7 Games
Angie Janis 51
Kelsey Woodard 50
Kristi Woodard 49
Ally Jensen 42
Career 3FG Leaders – First 7 Career Games
Player 3FG-A (Pct.) Career 3FG
Kathy Halligan 13-39 (.333) 309
Dayna Finch 12-25 (.480) 294
Laura Spanheimer 13-29 (.448) 250
Missy Miller 16-39 (.410) 187
Holly Sivesind 8-16 (.500) 174
Kelsey Woodard 5-22 (.227) 160
Ally Jensen 13-27 (.481) 13
Record Setting Day From Long Range
Creighton tied and set school records and tied an MVC record in its 63-61 overtime win at UC Davis on Nov. 27. The Bluejays unloaded a school-record 41 three-point attempts (surpassing the former mark by four), which also tied the MVC record set by Illinois State against Air Force on Nov. 26, 2003. CU tied the school record by making 16 three-pointers, originally done against Oral Roberts on Dec. 16, 1989. The 16 treys tie for the fourth-most ever by an MVC team.
More Three Info
In Creighton's record-tying effort against UC Davis, the Bluejays made 10-of-20 three-point shots in the first half alone. But it was after halftime they truly relied on the three-ball, as the Jays did not make any “two-point” field goals in the second half, all of their 15 points came from behind the arc and their only non-three-point field goal after halftime was Kelsey Woodard's game-winning, left-handed layup at the buzzer in overtime. Woodard finished 6-for-12 from three-point range, while Sam Schuett made four, Ally Jensen added three, Chevelle Herring had two and Megan Neuvirth had one triple to contribute to tying the school record.
Not Done With 3FG Notes Just Yet
Creighton's 55 three-pointers through its first five games were the most ever in a five-game span in school history. In addition to the school-record tying 16 triples at UC Davis (Nov. 27), the Bluejays also set a school record for three-pointers in a two-game span, draining 28 over its first two games this year – 13 against Arkansas State (Nov. 13) and 15 against Davidson (Nov. 15).
Decade of Success
Since Jan. 1, 2000, the Bluejays have won 60.1 percent of their games, going 184-122 this decade. The only MVC team to have won more this decade is Drake, with 189 wins and a .620 winning percentage.
Overall Records Since Jan. 1, 2000
W L Pct.
Drake 189 116 .620
Creighton 184 123 .599
Missouri State 181 128 .586
Indiana State 168 128 .568
Northern Iowa 156 142 .523
Evansville 154 141 .522
Illinois State 142 151 .485
Bradley 122 161 .431
Wichita State 118 167 .414
Southern Illinois 80 197 .289
Decade Breakdown
Creighton's 184 wins this decade are the most of any decade in school history, topping the 1990s 177 wins. The Jays have posted a .599 winning percentage since Jan. 1, 2000, compared to a .621 winning percentage in the 90s. See the chart below:
Bluejays by Decade
W L Pct.
2000s 184 123 .599
1990s 177 108 .621
1980s 151 132 .534
1970s 60 52 .536
November Reign
Creighton went 4-1 this November, securing just its fourth four-win November in school history. The 2007-08 team set a school record by playing seven games in November, posting a 4-3 mark in the month. The 1985-86 team went 4-1 in November and the 1984-85 squad posted a perfect 5-0 mark in the month. The Bluejays are now 16-19 in November under Jim Flanery – the only month on the calendar the Bluejays are under .500 with Flan at the helm.
Home is Where the Wins Are
The Bluejays have won 15 of their last 16 home games and are now 76-24 (.760) at home under Jim Flanery. The Jays are now 70-20 (.778) all-time on-campus (4-0 at D.J Sokol Arena, 26-12 at Kiewit Fitness Center and 40-8 at Vinardi Athletic Center). The Bluejays played 301 of their first 428 recorded home games at the Omaha Civic Auditorium where they posted a 213-88 (.708) record. Despite all of the moving, Creighton has managed to post a 315-117 (.729) recorded home record all-time at 12 different “home” sites.
California Dreaming
Creighton's win at UC Davis (Nov. 27) marked its seventh straight win over a California-based team, dating back to a loss to USC in 1999. Since that defeat, CU has twice defeated UCD and San Diego State, and topped USC, UC Irvine and UC Riverside. The win at UCD also marked CU's fifth straight win in the Pacific Time Zone, also winning at Oregon State, Washington, SDSU and UCI.
The Race to 1,000
There is a three-way race on the Bluejays this year to see which player can become the 20th member of the 1,000-point club. Megan Neuvirth is currently leading the charge with 950 career points, followed by Chevelle Herring's 897 and Kelsey Woodard's 873 points. No Bluejay trio has ever surpassed the 1,000 point plateau in the same season. Woodard, a junior, is aiming to become the first junior to reach 1,000 career points at CU since Angie Janis did so in 2004-05.
Career Milestone Updates
• Megan Neuvirth started the season ranked sixth in school history with 211 career steals, but now ranks fifth with 231 swipes. She also opened the year ranked seventh at CU with 714 career rebounds, but has since moved to into fourth with 763 boards. She also eclipsed 900 career points at UC Davis (Nov. 27).
• Kelsey Woodard became the eighth player in school history to reach 150 career three-point field goals earlier this season, and has moved from eighth to sixth in CU history with 162 treys.
• Chevelle Herring is just three points shy of 900 for her career.
• Sam Schuett recorded her 500th career rebound against Saint Louis (Dec. 4).
Lets Be Frank
Senior forward Katie Frank earned her first career start at UC Davis on Nov. 27, after coming off the bench in her first 73 career games. She's been helpful this season, with 10 assists in her first six games, including a career-best three helpers in each of the first two contests this year, she has already eclipsed her single-season high of eight helpers, which she needed 31 games to reach last year. She had 13 career assists in 69 games, before her 10 helpers through six games this year.
The State of Basketball in Nebraska
Creighton's starting lineup in each of its first six games has featured all Nebraska natives – the first time in recorded school history the Bluejays have started five home state players. In fact, seven of CU's 10 players on this year's roster are from Nebraska – 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).
It's Raining Threes
Creighton made 28 three-pointers in its first two games of the season – setting a school record for three-pointers in a two-game span. The previous mark also came in the first two contests of a season, when the 2004-05 team drained 27 threes (14,13) in its first two games. The Jays have now made at least 10 three-pointers in a game 38 times under Jim Flanery (since 2002-03). CU had not made at least 10 treys in consecutive games since making 12 on Jan. 4 and 11 on Jan. 6, 2008.
Sam She Is
Junior Sam Schuett has returned to her rebounding form after missing all of last year while taking a medical redshirt because of an ankle injury. The Omaha native leads the team with 8.0 rebounds per game, including a pair of games with at least 10 rebounds and her seventh career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds at UC Davis (Nov. 27).
Cleaning the Glass
Creighton owned a 53-36 rebounding edge over Arkansas State (Nov. 13) in its season-opener, including an impressive 36-16 advantage in the first half. CU's 53 boards were its most in a regulation contest since nabbing 53 rebounds against Louisiana-Monroe on Dec. 10, 2005.
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.
Welcome to a Home!
Creighton's season-opener marked its first regular-season home game on campus since March 7, 1992 – an 81-69 win over Wyoming in the Vinardi Athletic Center (Old Gym). The 1991-92 team played four of its 14 home games at the Old Gym.
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. More information can be found on the facility in the first four pages of the 2009-10 Women's Basketball Media Guide.
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.
Statistically Speaking
Creighton 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 and a plus-1.6 turnover margin last year.
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.
Schuett Returns From Medical Redshirt
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. Schuett, a member of the MVC All-Freshman team in 2006-07 averages 8.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in her career.
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. Corbin had 10 points, making 3-of-6 three-pointers in CU's exhibition. 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 last year.
• 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.
• Her 231 career steals 763 career rebounds are both tops among active MVC players.
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).
Exhibition Summary
Creighton played just one exhibition game for the third time in the last four years, but also played a closed door scrimmage at Iowa on Nov. 1. The Bluejays defeated Nebraska-Omaha, 80-57, on Nov. 5 at D.J. Sokol Arena. Kelsey Woodard's 17 points led five Bluejays in double figures, as all 10 CU players played at least 12 minutes in the game. Megan Neuvirth led the team with seven rebounds and six steals, while Kelsey Crites came off the bench to lead the Jays with five assists.
