Women's Basketball Hosts Saint Louis Friday

Game 6 vs. Saint Louis • Friday, Dec. 4 • 7:05 p.m.
Saint Louis Billikens at Creighton Bluejays
Ryan Athletic Center & D.J. Sokol Arena • Omaha, Neb.
Radio: 1180 AM, www.koilam1180.com • Video: www.gocreighton.com
Series History: Creighton leads 3-0
Last Meeting: Creighton won 68-56, Nov. 25, 2008 in St. Louis

• 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 is 4-1 for the second time in three years but just the third time since 1994-95. CU is looking for its first 5-1 start since 2000-01.

• The Bluejays tied a school record with 16 three-point field goals at UC Davis last Friday, while their 41 3FG attempts set a CU mark and tied the MVC record.

• The Jays rank second in the NCAA averaging 11.0 three-pointers per game.

• Kelsey Woodard leads the MVC and ranks 10th in the NCAA with 3.6 three-pointers made per game.

• Friday marks the 100th home game in Jim Flanery's head coaching career. The Bluejays are 75-24 (.758) in the first 99.

• Creighton is 3-0 all-time against Saint Louis, including a 68-56 win last year at SLU and an 82-44 win on Jan. 8, 1988 in the Billikens' only visit to Omaha.

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, 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 ... Neuvirth, the reigning MVC Defensive Player of the Year, set a school record with 325 rebounds last year and leads all active MVC players with 748 career rebounds and 226 career steals ... Senior point guard Chevelle Herring, a second-team all-MVC honoree last year, leads the team with 3.6 assists per game, along with her 12.2 points per game ... Junior guard Kelsey Woodard is 18-for-41 (.439) from three-point range and leads the team with 14.2 points per game ... Junior forward Sam Schuett has returned after a medical redshirt season in 2008-09, and is leading the team with 7.8 rebounds per game.

Scouting the Billikens
Saint Louis is off to a 3-3 start, returning just two starters from a 12-18 team last year, in which they finished ninth in the Atlantic 10 with a 6-8 mark ... Senior center Amanda Kemezys is leading the team with 16.7 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in just 20.8 minutes ... Lauren Woods adds 14.2 points and Katie Paganelli is averaging 12 points and has hit 13 of SLU's 26 three-pointers on the year ... SLU is shooting 39.9 percent from the field and 29.9 percent from three-point range.

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 135-93 (.592). 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.    Shimmy Gray-Miller (Michigan, 1994) is in her fifth season as a head coach, all at SLU, where she is 45-78 (.366). She served as an assistant at Arizona and Washington prior to her stint at Saint Louis.

Creighton-SLU Series History
The Bluejays own the all-time series lead with the Billikens, 3-0. CU won 68-56 at Saint Louis last November in the first meeting between the teams in 20 years. The Bluejays won the first meeting between the teams in 1985, 79-45, in St. Louis. CU posted an 82-44 victory over SLU on Jan. 8, 1988 in the Billikens' only previous trip to Omaha.

Last Year at Saint Louis
Megan Neuvirth pulled down a career-high 16 rebounds and added 17 points as the Bluejays posted a come-from-behind win, 68-56 at Saint Louis on Nov. 25, 2008. The Jays trailed by as many as nine in the first half and went into halftime down 31-24, as SLU out-rebounded CU 26-16 in the first half. Creighton opened the second-half on a 26-5 run to take control of the game. Neuvirth grabbed 12 of her 16 rebounds after the half, while 10 of her 17 points also came after the break. The double-double was the fifth of her career, but first since her freshman season. She also led all players with six assists. Kristina Voss turned in her fourth career double-dime with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Kelsey Woodard exploded for 23 points, tying her then career-high with five three-point field goals and adding a career-best four blocked shots. Janisha Gearlds led SLU with 12 points.

Jesuits vs. Jesuits
Friday's game between Creighton and Saint Louis is part of the nationwide Jesuit Basketball Spotlight project, using Jesuit basketball to raise awareness of Jesuit education, as both CU and SLU are Jesuit institutions. The Jesuit Basketball Spotlight project highlights more than 90 games this season – including two featuring the CU women – between men's and women's teams from the 28 Jesuit colleges and universities across the United States. Each of the 28 is dedicated to strong academics and teaching women and men to serve others and live a faith that does justice. Jesuit, Catholic colleges and universities in the United States have more than 200,000 students currently and more than 1.7 million living alumni. The Jesuit educational mission began in Europe approximately 500 years ago. Fans can visit www.ajcunet.edu for more information.

Hot Starts
Creighton is off to its second 4-1 start in the past three years, but just its third 4-1 start in the last 16 years. The Jays are shooting for their first 5-1 start since the 2000-01 squad opened the season 6-1. 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.

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.

Where We Rank
The Bluejays have made 55 three-pointers through five games this season, averaging 11 per game to rank second in the NCAA in that category. Kelsey Woodard leads the team and MVC with her 3.6 three-pointers per game, which ranks the junior guard 10th in the NCAA this week.

Not Done With 3FG Notes Just Yet
Creighton's 55 three-pointers through its first five games are 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).

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 14 of their last 15 home games and are now 75-24 (.758) at home under Jim Flanery. The Jays are 69-20 (.775) all-time on-campus (3-0 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 314-117 (.729) recorded home record all-time at 12 different “home” sites.

The Ally Way
Freshman Ally Jensen has made at least one three-pointer in each of her first five collegiate games and she is leading the team and ranked third in the MVC shooting 50.0 percent from long range, 9-of-18. 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 5 Games
Kelsey Woodard    44
Kristi Woodard    40
Angie Janis    39
Ally Jensen    28

Career 3FG Leaders – First 5 Career Games
Player    3FG-A (Pct.)    Career 3FG
Kathy Halligan    8-28 (.286)    309
Dayna Finch    5-15 (.333)    294
Laura Spanheimer    10-25 (.400)    250
Missy Miller    14-31 (.452)    187
Holly Sivesind    7-11 (.636)    174
Kelsey Woodard    5-16 (.313)    158
Ally Jensen    9-18 (.500)    9

Decade of Success
Since Jan. 1, 2000, the Bluejays have won 60 percent of their games, going 183-122 this decade. The only MVC team to have won more this decade is Drake, with 187 wins and a .617 winning percentage.

Overall Records Since Jan. 1, 2000
    W    L    Pct.
Drake    187    116    .617
Creighton    183    122    .600
Missouri State    179    127    .585
Indiana State    167    127    .568
Northern Iowa    154    141    .522
Evansville    152    140    .521
Illinois State    141    151    .483
Bradley    122    159    .434
Wichita State    116    166    .411
Southern Illinois    80    195    .291

Decade Breakdown
Creighton's 183 wins this decade are the most of any decade in school history, topping the 1990s 177 wins. The Jays have posted a .600 winning percent since Jan. 1, 2000, compared to a .621 winning percentage in the 90s. See the chart below:

Bluejays by Decade
    W    L    Pct.
2000s    183    122    .600
1990s    177    108    .621
1980s    151    132    .534
1970s    60    52    .536

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.

Beating the Big 12
Creighton's 63-54 win over Kansas State (Nov. 23) snapped a six-game losing streak to teams from the Big 12. CU went 0-6 against Big 12 foes in 2008-09. The win was CU's first against a team from the Big 12 since topping K-State in 2007. The Jays are now 8-19 against the Big 12 under Jim Flanery.

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 905 career points, followed by Chevelle Herring's 892 and Kelsey Woodard's 851 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 226 swipes. She also opened the year ranked seventh at CU with 714 career rebounds, but has since moved to fifth with 748 boards, just one shy of Kathy Halligan for fourth. She also eclipsed 900 career points at UC Davis.
• 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 158 treys.
• Kelsey Crites has played in 99 career games.
• Chevelle Herring has exactly 100 career steals is is just eight points shy of 900 for her career.
• Sam Schuett needs eight rebounds to reach 500 in her career.

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 eight assists in her first four games, including a career-best three helpers in each of the first two contests this year, she has already tied 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 eight helpers through four games this year.

The State of Basketball in Nebraska
Creighton's starting lineup in each of its first five 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.

Herring and Woodard Hit 20
Kelsey Woodard led all players with 22 points at UC Davis (Nov. 27) and Chevelle Herring led all players with 20 points against Davidson (Nov. 15) – as both players notched their eighth career 20-point game.

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 7.8 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 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 226 career steals 748 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.

Players Mentioned

Sara Cizek

Jasmin Corbin

Kelsey Crites

Katie Frank

Chevelle Herring

Angie Janis

Ally Jensen

DaNae Moore

Kellie Nelson

Megan Neuvirth

Sam Schuett

Holly Sivesind

Laura Spanheimer

Kristina Voss

Kelsey Woodard

Kristi Woodard

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