Bluejays Host No. 15 Oklahoma in Women's Basketball

Game 9 vs. Oklahoma • Sunday, Dec. 20 • 2:05 p.m.
#15 Oklahoma Sooners at Creighton Bluejays
Ryan Athletic Center & D.J. Sokol Arena • Omaha, Neb.
Radio: 1180 AM, www.koilam1180.com • Video: www.gocreighton.com
Series History: Oklahoma leads 2-0
Last Meeting: Oklahoma won 69-49, Dec. 3, 2008 in Norman

• The game can be heard on KOIL AM 1180 in Omaha and online at www.koilam1180.com. Brad Burwell and former Bluejay Sara Cizek Going will call the action.

• 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 are available for an annual fee of $69.95 or a monthly fee of $11.95. More information is available at www.gocreighton.com.

• Creighton has won 15 of its last 16 home games, including a 4-0 start this year. The Bluejays are 76-24 (.760) at home under Jim Flanery.

• Despite making just eight three-pointers combined in its last two games, Creighton still ranks seventh in the NCAA with 8.9 three-pointers per game.

• Megan Neuvirth is averaging 15 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game against Big 12 teams this year.

• Oklahoma is the third program this decade to visit Creighton the year after appearing in the NCAA Final Four. The Jays defeated Missouri State in 2002, following its 2001 appearance and lost to Minnesota in 2004.

• The Bluejays are 0-2 all-time against Oklahoma, with both previous meetings coming in Norman.

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 3.1 assists per game ... Junior guard Kelsey Woodard leads the MVC in three-point field goals and is 24-for-57 (.421) from beyond the arc ... Junior forward Sam Schuett has returned after a medical redshirt season in 2008-09, and is leading the team with 7.5 rebounds per game.

Scouting the Sooners
No. 15 Oklahoma has played six of its 10 games away from Norman this season, including a pair of road wins last week ... OU set a school-record with 32 wins, won the Big 12 and advanced to the Final Four last year ... National Player of the Year candidate Danielle Robinson leads the team with 16.1 points and 5.4 assists per game ... Nyeshia Stevenson adds 13.8 points ... Amanda Thompson (10.4 p, 10.1 r) and Abi Olajuwon (12.5 p, 7.1 r) are OU's top rebounders ... Sharp-shooter Whitney Hand (13.4 p) is out after she suffered a torn ACL in OU's fifth game of the year.

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 136-95 (.589). 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 0-1 all-time against Oklahoma and 8-21 against the Big 12. Sherri Coale (Oklahoma Christian, 1987) is in her 14th season as a collegiate head coach, all at OU, where she is 294-134 (.687). The winningest coach in Big 12 history, she has led the Sooners to the last nine NCAA Tournaments, including the 2002 national title game and the 2009 Final Four.

Creighton-Oklahoma Series History
Oklahoma has won both of the previous meetings in the series, winning the first meeting in 1985 and last year's contest, 69-49 on Dec. 3. Both of the previous games took place in Norman.

Last Year at Oklahoma
Chevelle Herring led all players with 16 points, but No. 6 Oklahoma proved too much for the Jays in a 69-49 loss. The Jays led by five in the first half, before a 12-0 run by OU gave the Sooners a lead. The Jays trailed by one with over three minutes left in the first half before OU rattled off the last 11 points of the half to claim a 12-point halftime lead. CU was within nine late in the game as well, but again a 12-0 burst by OU put the game out of reach. Herring drained four three-pointers in defeat. Megan Neuvirth had 15 points, six rebounds, four steals, three assists and two blocked shots while playing all 40 minutes, despite receiving an IV for an illness earlier in the day. OU All-American Courtney Paris did not record her 99th straight double-double until less than two minutes remained, as she finished with 11 points and 16 boards.

Battling the Big 12
Creighton is playing its fourth and final Big 12 opponent this year. 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 losses at No. 24 Nebraska and No. 23 Kansas, CU is 8-21 against the Big 12 under Jim Flanery – Colorado 2-0; Iowa State 0-2; Kansas 2-6; Kansas State 2-4; Missouri 0-1; Nebraska 2-6; Oklahoma 0-1; Texas Tech 0-1.

Pulling Rank
Oklahoma is the third straight AP top-25 team the Bluejays have faced. Creighton was 0-2 against ranked teams last year, and is now 0-2 this year after falling at No. 24 Nebraska and at No. 23 Kansas last week. 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 1-11 against the top-25 under Jim Flanery.

Season Highs and Lows
Creighton has combined a pair of unfortunate statistics in each of its last two games - not surprisingly resulting in losses. The Bluejays posted a season-low 56 points in both of their last two games, while they have set a season-high 21 turnovers in both of those losses. The Jays also notched season-lows in assists (five), three-pointers made (2), attempted (12) and percentage (.167) at Kansas (Dec. 13).

Live and Die by the Three
Creighton ranks seventh in the NCAA with 8.9 three-pointers per game, but the Jays have done considerably better from long range in wins than losses. CU is shooting 42 percent (60-143) from three-point range, an average of 12 threes per game, in wins. In losses, the Jays have made only 11-of-48 for 22.9 percent at an average of 3.7 per game.

Kellie, Kellie, Kellie
Junior center Kellie Nelson poured in a career-best seven field goals on a career-high 15 attempts at No. 23 Kansas (Dec. 13). She finished with season-highs of 14 points and eight rebounds in the game.

Getting Chevy in Gear
Senior Chevelle Herring played in her 100th career game at Kansas on Dec. 13. She was held scoreless for just the third time in her last 75 games and held without a field goal for the second straight game. In Creighton's three losses this year, Chevy has 14 points and 14 turnovers, while she is just 5-for-29 (.172) from the field and 0-for-7 from three-point range. In wins she is 19-for-57 (.333) from the floor and 11-for-24 (.458) from beyond the arc, averaging 10.4 points.

Herring Against the Big 12, 2008 vs. 2009
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 last year. In three games against the Big 12 this year, she is just 4-of-23 (.174) from the field, 2-for-7 (.286) from three-point range and averaging 4.0 points and 3.3 turnovers per game.

Jensen Ties School Record
Freshman Ally Jensen tied a school record by making a three-point field goal in each of her first seven career games. The guard equalled the school mark established by Laura Spanheimer in 2001-02, before going 0-for-2 from long range at Kansas (Dec. 13).

Points Off Turnovers
Through Creighton's first six games, the Bluejays out-scored every opponent in points off turnovers for an average of plus-6.0 points per game off of turnovers (118-82). In CU's losses at Nebraska and Kansas, the Jays were out-scored in points off turnovers, 50-19 combined. CU allowed a season-high 26 points off turnovers at NU and scored a season-low five points off turnovers at KU.

Hot Starts
Creighton got off to one of its best starts under eighth-year head coach Jim Flanery this year. CU's 5-1 start was its best start through six games since the 2000-01 team opened 5-1. At 5-2, the Jays 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 (Dec. 9), 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.

Where We Rank
The Bluejays have made 71 three-pointers through eight games this season, averaging 8.9 per game to lead the MVC and rank seventh in the NCAA. Kelsey Woodard leads the team and MVC with her 3.0 three-pointers per game, which rank the junior guard 22nd in the NCAA. Ally Jensen leads the team and ranks second in the MVC, shooting 44.8 percent from three-point range.

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.

The Ally Way
Freshman Ally Jensen 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 44.8 percent from long range, 13-of-29. See the charts below comparing the start of her career to the top-six three-point shooters in school history.

Career 3FG Leaders – First 8 Career Games
Player    3FG-A (Pct.)    Career 3FG
Kathy Halligan    16-44 (.364)    309
Dayna Finch    12-28 (.429)    294
Laura Spanheimer    13-31 (.419)    250
Missy Miller    16-42 (.381)    187
Holly Sivesind    10-20 (.500)    174
Kelsey Woodard    5-26 (.192)    164
Ally Jensen    13-29 (.448)    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).

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 958 career points, followed by Chevelle Herring's 897 and Kelsey Woodard's 883 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 234 swipes. She also opened the year ranked seventh at CU with 714 career rebounds, but has since moved to into fourth with 771 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 164 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).

Decade of Success
Since Jan. 1, 2000, the Bluejays have won 59.7 percent of their games, going 184-124 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    190    116    .621
Creighton    184    124    .597
Missouri State    181    128    .586
Indiana State    169    128    .569
Northern Iowa    157    142    .525
Evansville    154    142    .520
Illinois State    142    152    .483
Bradley    122    161    .431
Wichita State    119    167    .416
Southern Illinois    80    198    .288

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 .597 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    124    .597
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.

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.

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 11 assists in eight 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 11 helpers through eight 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 7.5 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.

Bluejays Host No. 15 Oklahoma in Women's Basketball

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Players Mentioned

Jasmin Corbin

Kelsey Crites

Katie Frank

Chevelle Herring

Ally Jensen

DaNae Moore

Kellie Nelson

Megan Neuvirth

Sam Schuett

Kristina Voss

Kelsey Woodard

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