Women's Basketball Hosts Drake on Fox Sports Friday
1/26/2010 4:57:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Game 18 vs. Drake • Friday, Jan. 29 • 7:35 p.m.
Drake Bulldogs at Creighton Bluejays
Ryan Athletic Center & D.J. Sokol Arena • Omaha, Neb.
Radio: 1180 AM, www.koilam1180.com • TV: Fox Sports Net
Series History: Drake leads 34-17
Last Meeting: CU won 53-35, March 14, 2009 in St. Charles, Mo.
• This game is the first of three televised Creighton games on the MVC TV package this season. The contest will air live on Fox Sports Midwest, with Mitch Holthus and Jill Hutchison on the call.
• 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.
• Creighton is 2-2 at home in Valley play this year after it was 16-2 at home in the MVC over the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons.
• Creighton's 18-point come-from-behind win over UNI last Sunday was the second largest comeback win under Jim Flanery.
• Sam Schuett has made a school record 39 straight free-throws, the third longest streak in MVC history.
• Megan Neuvirth ranks second in school history and 15th in MVC history with 834 career rebounds.
• Creighton is 13-for-64 (.203) from three-point range in its last three home games after going 56-of-127 (.441) from long range in its first six home games of the season.
• CU won two of three meetings with DU last year, snapping a four-game skid in the series.
Scouting the Bluejays
The Bluejays are the preseason favorites in the MVC, returning seven letterwinners and four starters from last year's team which finished 22-12 and advanced to the WNIT for the fifth time in seven years ... Creighton owns a league-best +10.4 rebounding margin in MVC play ... CU also leads the league in scoring defense (54.8) and scoring margin (+13.5) in league play ... Four Bluejays are averaging double figures, led by MVC Preseason Player of the Year, senior forward Megan Neuvirth, who is the reigning MVC Defensive Player of the Year. Neuvirth leads the team with 12.9 points and 2.5 steals per game and tops all active MVC players in career rebounds (834) and steals (254) ... Junior forward Sam Schuett tops the team in rebounds (8.1), free-throw percentage (.885) and three-point percentage (.388) ... Schuett also leads the team with 14.4 points per game in MVC play ... Junior center Kellie Nelson (12.8 ppg in MVC) is CU's leading score in its last seven games at 14.3 ppg ... Junior guard Kelsey Woodard has 176 career three-pointers, including a team-best 36 this year.
Scouting the Bulldogs
Drake has lost three of its last four games, including two straight, and is 3-5 in road games this season ... The Bulldogs lead the MVC in three-point accuracy (.374), but have made the second fewest three-pointers (4.3 per game) in the league ... DU's plus-3.0 turnover margin leads the MVC ... DU is second in the league in field-goal percentage (.433) and last in the league with 34.6 rebounds per game ... Jordann Plummer tops the team with 15.5 points, 4.5 assists and league-leading 2.9 steals per game and is third in the league, shooting 89.9 percent at the free-throw line ... Rachael Hackbarth (12.1), Kristin Turk (10.9) and Moniqué Jones (10.5) all score in double figures, while Jones ranks among MVC leaders with her 52.6 field goal percentage ... Amber Wollschlager leads the team with 25 three-pointers and 42.4 3FG percentage.
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 142-98 (.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. He is 7-10 all-time against Drake. Amy Stephens (Nebraska, 1991) is in her seventh season at Drake and her 15th as a collegiate head coach. Stephens is 114-91 at Drake and 311-134 overall. She led DU to a share of the MVC regular-season title in 2007-08 and the MVC Tournament title in 2006-07. The Nebraska native was previously head coach at Division II Nebraska-Kearney.
Creighton-Drake Series History
Drake owns the all-time series lead with Creighton 34-17 – the most played opponent in CU history. The Jays are 8-13 all-time against the Bulldogs in Omaha, while CU has won five of the last eight meetings with Drake in Omaha. The Jays won two of three meetings with the Bulldogs last year after losing eight of nine, including four straight, in the series. Drake was the only MVC team to win in Omaha in both the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons, as CU was a perfect 16-0 in Valley play apart from its meetings with DU.
Last Year Against Drake
Creighton won on Drake's home floor and Drake won in the only regular-season women's game ever played at Qwest Center Omaha. The Jays then ended Drake's season with a 53-35 defensive effort in the MVC Tournament. The Jays made 25-of-28 (.893) free-throws at DU in a 68-65 win last Jan. 31. Kelsey Woodard made four three-pointers and led the team with 16 points and Chevelle Herring went 10-for-10 at the free-throw line in CU's first win in Des Moines since 2003. Jordann Plummer topped DU with 27 points in the regular-season loss. Creighton shot a season-low 21.9 percent from the field, while attempting a season-high 73 shots in a 51-44 loss to DU on Feb. 27. DU had as many points as turnovers in the first half, as CU led 21-15 at the break. CU scored only five points in the first 12:31 of the second half. Megan Neuvirth led CU with 14 points and 13 rebounds, while Herring went 3-for-26 from the field in defeat. In the Valley tournament, the Jays scored 15 straight points during a game-ending 17-2 run to blow open the game, while the Jays held Drake to the lowest point total in MVC Tourney history. Herring led all players with 17 points, while Drake shot just 26 percent in its season-ending loss.
Bluejay Individuals vs. Bulldogs
No Bluejay averages more than nine points per game in her career against the Bulldogs. Chevelle Herring averaged 13.7 points per game against Drake last year, making 14-of-17 free-throws against the Bulldogs. Herring averages 8.8 ppg in her career vs. DU. Megan Neuvirth averaged a double-double against Drake last year with 10.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game. In her career Neuvirth averages 7.5 points and 7.6 boards per game against the Bulldogs. Kelsey Woodard is just 6-for-25 (.240) from three-point range in her career against DU, and averages 7.2 points and 5.6 boards. Sam Schuett averages 7.0 points and 6.2 rebounds, making 5-of-11 (.455) three-pointers against DU.
Senior Citizens
Fifth-year seniors and roommates Megan Neuvirth and Chevelle Herring took control of Creighton's come-from-behind 62-58 win over UNI last Sunday. Neuvirth scored 15 of her game-high 20 points after halftime and Herring scoring all 12 of her points after the half. The duo accounted for seven of Creighton's final eight field goals and 19 of its final 23 points, to help the Bluejays overcome an 18-point second-half deficit and end the game on a 28-10 run. Herring's 12 points marked her highest scoring game in her last dozen, reaching double figures for the first time since Nov. 27. Neuvirth logged her third double-double of the year with 20 points and 10 rebounds, along with three steals.
Do Call it a Comeback
Creighton trailed by 18 in the second half of its win over UNI last Sunday. The Jays were down 42-24 with 14:09 left, were down by 14 (48-34) with 8:17 remaining and were still down by double figures with 6:05 to play before closing the game on a 28-10 run to win 62-58. The comeback was the second-largest deficit overcome for a win under head coach Jim Flanery. (The Jays overcame a 19-point second-half deficit against Indiana State in the 2007 MVC Tournament quarterfinals). The win was also Creighton's first this year when trailing at the half (1-5).
Double the Double-Doubles
For the second time in their careers, Megan Neuvirth and Sam Schuett recorded a double-double in the same game last Sunday, doing so against Northern Iowa both times. Neuvirth had 10 rebounds and a team-high 20 points, while Schuett had 14 points and team-best 11 rebounds against UNI. The pair also logged double-doubles against UNI in Cedar Falls on Feb. 3, 2007. It marked the first pair of double-dimes in the same game for the Jays since Neuvirth and Kristina Voss turned the trick at Saint Louis on Nov. 25, 2008.
Megan Cleans the Glass
Senior Megan Neuvirth has moved into second place on the Creighton career rebounding list, entering the week with 834 career boards. She is now 90 boards shy of the school record 924 set by Pam Gradoville (1984-88). Her 834 rebounds are tops among active MVC players and rank 15th in Valley history. She is 76 caroms shy of becoming the 12th player in league history with 900 rebounds in a career.
No Longer Blue Herring
Chevelle Herring led the Bluejays 13 points per game last year, but ranks fifth on the team with 6.4 ppg this year. Before her 12 points against UNI last Sunday, Herring had gone 11 straight games without scoring in double figures – including two scoreless games – averaging 3.3 points per game in that span. She had not scored in double figures since scoring 10 points at UC Davis on Nov. 27. The senior guard now has 12 single-digit scoring games of CU's 17 contests this year, after she had 12 single-digit scoring games in 34 contests all of last year.
Define Streaky
Streaky [stree-kee] – adjective, occurring in streaks, characterized by streaks, see Kelsey Woodard's three-point shooting.
Woodard went 0-for-3 from three-point range against UNI last Sunday to move to 3-for-26 (.115) from beyond the arc in her last five games. That slump comes on the heals of Woodard making six straight three-point attempts over a two-game span. She was 4-for-4 from long range at Illinois State (Jan. 2) and 2-for-2 beyond the arc against Wichita State (Jan. 7). In MVC play she is shooting just 26.2 percent (11-42) from long range after shooting 42.4 percent (25-59) from deep in non-conference play.
The ups and downs for the shooter are nothing new, as she started her career 5-for-26 (.192) from three-point range, but would shoot 44.8 percent (47-105) for the remainder of her freshman season. Despite her recent skid, she still ranks ninth in CU history with a career three-point percentage of .380.
Sam's Record Streak
Junior forward Sam Schuett has made a school-record 39 straight free-throw attempts and now leads the team and ranks 22nd in the NCAA, shooting 88.5 percent at the stripe. She has made her first 29 attempts in league play to lead the MVC. The MVC record for consecutive free-throws made is 53 (Katie Miller, UNI, 2000), while Schuett's streak ranks third in MVC history. (Indiana State's Kelsey Luna had a streak of 44 straight earlier this season). Schuett has not missed a free-throw since going 5-for-6 at Kansas (Dec. 13).
The Law of Averages Will Getcha
Since Creighton established a school record by shooting 64 percent from the field against Wichita State (Jan. 7), the Bluejays have struggled to shoot at D.J. Sokol Arena. Since making 32-of-50 (.640) shots and 7-of-12 (.583) three-pointers and scoring a season-high 89 points against WSU, the Jays are just 53-of-161 (.329) from the field and 13-of-64 (.203) from long range at home, averaging 62 points. The Jays held the Shockers to 33.9 percent shooting, 27.3 three-point shooting and 48 points. CU's three opponents at home since WSU have combined to shoot 50.3 percent (72-143) from the field, 43.9 percent (18-41) from three-point range and average 67.7 points.
Rebounding Record in Sight
With 834 career boards, Megan Neuvirth remains on pace to set a school record for career caroms. In second place in CU history, she is currently 90 rebounds shy of the school record 924 set by Pam Gradoville. Should Neuvirth continue to average the 7.1 boards per game she is currently pulling down and the Bluejays play at least three postseason games, she could end her career as the Bluejay leader in rebounds.
Still Getting Settled
The Bluejays are still settling in to their new home at D.J. Sokol Arena, as they have lost three of their last five home games, including a 2-2 record at home in Valley play. The Bluejays were 8-1 at home in Valley play in each of the previous two seasons, before dropping two of their first three home MVC contests this year. In their last three home games, the Jays have made just 13-of-64 (.203) shots from three-point range (4.3 per game) after going 56-of-127 (.441) from long range (9.3 per game) in their first six home games this season.
RPI Trending Downward
Creighton's RPI peaked at 24 this season, before a loss to Missouri State on Jan. 9. The Jays' RPI was still 32 before winning road games at Evansville (305) and Southern Illinois (303). After those wins over RPI teams in the 300s, CU's RPI dropped 15 points to 47 before another loss to Bradley. BU's RPI was 215 when it topped CU, moving the Jays' RPI to its current spot of 66. CU's strength of schedule also peaked as high as No. 11 just two weeks ago. The Jays still top the league with an SOS of 62 and RPI of 66, and hope they have not slipped off of a potential NCAA bubble.
The average RPI of Creighton's four non-conference losses is currently 19.3 – Nebraska (4), Oklahoma (8), Kansas (31) and Marquette (34).
Neuvirth is the Only One
Megan Neuvirth is the only player in Creighton history with 1,000 points, 800 rebounds and 200 steals in a career.
A Guaranteed Win? When the Jays ...
• Shoot at least 40 percent from field (6-0)
• Make at least 10 three-pointers (5-0)
• Score at least 70 points (4-0)
• Play a road game in the MVC (4-0)
I Hear Whistles in My Sleep
Bradley was whistled for 32 fouls in Creighton's 63-57 loss on Jan. 22, parading the Bluejays to the line for 48 free-throw attempts. Creighton made a season-high 34 freebies, the most since making 31 on Jan. 1, 2001 against Wichita State. The 48 attempts were the most by the Jays since they set the MVC record with 56 attempts in that same WSU game.
Breaking Down the Percentages
In addition to its free-throw parade against Bradley (Jan. 22), Creighton logged season lows in field goal percentage (.227) and three-point percentage (.130). The Jays shot an identical 5-of-22 from the field in each half for a season-low 10 field goals made (the fewest field goals in the Jim Flanery era). Four of Creighton's starters had perfect nights at the free-throw line, combining to shoot 23-of-23 (Schuett and Neuvirth 8-for-8, Herring 4-for-4, Woodard 3-for-3), while Kellie Nelson attempted a career-high 14, but only made seven. Kelsey Crites went 3-for-9 at the free-throw line as the Jays shot 70.8 percent (34-48) at the stripe.
Live and Die by the Three
Creighton still leads the MVC and ranks 22nd in the NCAA with 7.5 three-pointers per game on the year. The Jays have done considerably better from long range in wins than losses. CU is shooting 38.8 percent (102-263) from three-point range, an average of 9.3 threes per game, in wins. In losses, the Jays have made only 25-of-110 for 22.7 percent at an average of 4.2 per game.
Nelson Named MVC Player of the Week
Kellie Nelson was named the MVC Player of the Week and Scholar-Athlete of the Week on Jan. 18 after two career-high scoring games at Evansville (Jan. 14) and Southern Illinois (Jan. 16). The center scored 19 points at UE and followed with 24 points at SIU. For the week she made 17-of-20 (.850) shots from the field and averaged 21.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.
Nelson Ratings
Junior center Kellie Nelson is Creighton's leading scorer over its last seven games, averaging 14.3 points per game in that span. She is shooting 62.5 percent from the field in that time, making 35-of-56 shoots from the floor. Over her last seven games she has twice set a new career-high in scoring (19 at Evansville, 24 at SIU), set a career-high with nine field goals at SIU, blocked a career-high four shots against Wichita State, made a career-high nine free-throws against Missouri State and attempted a career-high 14 free-throws against Bradley.
At Home in The Valley
Creighton is 18-4 at home in MVC play since the start of the 2007-08 season, going 8-1 in both of the previous two seasons, before starting 2-2 this year. Prior to their loss to Missouri State (Jan. 9), they were 17-0 in Valley play at home against teams not from Des Moines in that span, as Drake handed the Jays their lone MVC home loss in both 2007-08 and 2008-09.
Home is Where the Wins Are
The Bluejays have won 17 of their last 21 home games and are 78-27 (.743) at home under Jim Flanery. The Jays are now 72-23 (.758) all-time on-campus (6-3 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 317-120 (.725) recorded home record all-time at 12 different “home” sites.
Winning Big
Creighton's 89-48 win over Wichita State (Jan. 7) was its largest MVC win in school history and the largest margin of victory under Jim Flanery. Two of Creighton's last three road wins have been the largest road winning margin by the Jays under Flanery. CU's wins over Illinois State, Wichita State, Evansville and Southern Illinois came by an average of 28.5 points per game, with none closer than 22 points. Even with two losses its ledger in Valley play, the Jays are out-scoring MVC opponents 68.2 to 54.8, an average margin of 13.5 points.
Good Life on the Road
Creighton has enjoyed life on the road in the MVC thus far, winning its first four Valley road games by an average of 21 points. CU's 26-point win at Evansville (Jan. 14) was its largest margin of victory in a road game under Jim Flanery, topping its 25-point win over Illinois State (Jan. 2) in its previous road win. The Jays' last three road wins have come by at least 22 points and an average of 24.3. Creighton's 84 points at SIU (Jan. 16) marked its most points scored in a road game since an 89-79 win at Memphis on Dec. 6, 2006.
Balanced Attack
Four players are now averaging double figures on the season for the Bluejays, led by Megan Neuvirth's 12.9 points. Five Bluejays scored in double figures in their win at Southern Illinois (Jan. 16), the first time the Jays had five players with at least 10 points since six players reached that mark against Missouri State on Jan. 8, 2009.
Turnovers to Points
In CU's losses this year, the Jays have been out-scored 134-84 (-50) in points off turnovers for an average of minus-8.3 points per loss. In wins, the Jays own a 193-139 (+54) edge in points off turnovers, an average of plus-5.0 per win.
Neuvirth's Knee
All Bluejay fans held their collective breath when Megan Neuvirth left the game at Evansville (Jan. 14) with about two minutes remaining in the first half, heading straight to the locker room with an apparent right knee injury. Neuvirth did not return to the court in the second half at UE. After a limited practice on Jan. 15 she was back in the lineup at Southern Illinois (Jan. 16), notching her second double-double of the year with 12 rebounds, 10 points and season-high six assists in 32 minutes.
Top-Ranked Defense
Creighton's defense ranks atop the MVC, allowing just 58.9 points per game, including just 54.8 in Valley play. The Jays allowed just 45.3 points per game in their first three MVC games before Missouri State scored 82 on Jan. 9. MSU snapped a streak of six straight games where CU's MVC opponents failed to reach 50 points. Over that six-game span, the Jays allowed just 43.2 points per game.
Defensive Lapse
Creighton allowed Missouri State to score 82 points on Jan. 9, the most points scored by a Bluejay opponent in more than two years. No Bluejay foe had reached 80 points in a game since Kansas scored 91 points on Nov. 27, 2007. The 82 points were the most scored by a Bluejay foe in MVC play since Indiana State's 89 points on Dec. 31, 2006 and the most scored by a Bluejay visitor since Wichita State had 83 (in a CU win) on Jan. 7, 2006.
The State of Basketball in Nebraska
Creighton's starting lineup through its first 16 games this year featured all Nebraska natives – the first time in recorded school history the Bluejays have started five home state players (in one game, let alone 16 straight). 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).
Bluejays Set School Record for FG%
Creighton shot a school record 64 percent from the field in their win over Wichita State (Jan. 7), surpassing the old mark of 63.9 percent set at Bradley on Jan. 24, 1994. The Bluejays made 32-of-50 shots, including 16-of-22 (.727) in the second-half of the record-setting performance. It proved to be Creighton's best shooting performance since shooting 63.2 percent from the field at Bradley on Feb. 8, 1996.
Neuvirth Reaches 1,000 Career Points
Senior forward Megan Neuvirth became the 20th player in school history to surpass 1,000 career points when she made a layup early in the second half against Wichita State (Jan. 7). She's the first new member of the 1,000-point club since Ally Thrall in 2008 and is now ranked 19th in school history with 1,067 career points.
Largest Valley Win
Creighton's 89-48 win over Wichita State (Jan. 7) marked the largest winning margin in an MVC game in school history, besting the 37-point margin over Missouri State on Jan. 6, 2002. The margin was also the largest in any game under head coach Jim Flanery, just one game after the Jays notched their largest winning margin in a road game under Flan (+25 at Illinois State) – only to see that road winning margin topped at Evansville (+26) on Jan. 14.
Team Highs
Creighton established numerous season-highs in its 89-48 win over Wichita State (Jan. 7). The Jays had season highs in points (89), points in a half (45), field goals (32), assists (25), field goal percentage (.640) and three-point percentage (.583).
Schuett Named MVC Player of the Week
Junior Sam Schuett enjoyed her return to MVC play for the first time in two years by being named MVC Player of the Week (Jan. 4) after averaging 17 points and nine rebounds in wins at Indiana State (Dec. 31) and Illinois State (Jan. 2) to open the MVC season. Against the Sycamores, Schuett scored a season-high 19 points and made a career-best five three-point field goals. At Illinois State she had 15 points and a career-best 14 rebounds for her second double-double of the season, eighth career.
Holy Schuett
Forward Sam Schuett has recorded four double-doubles in her last seven games, including 14 points and 11 rebounds against Northern Iowa (Jan. 24). She also posted back-to-back double-doubles, with 15 points and career-best 14 rebounds at Illinois State (Jan. 2) and 12 points and 13 rebounds against Wichita State (Jan. 7). Schuett averaged a double-double through her first three MVC games at 15.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.
By the Boards
Creighton out-rebounded Wichita State 42-20 on Jan. 7, the largest rebounding margin by the Bluejays since they were plus-23 against Evansville on Feb. 17, 2008. Sam Schuett actually out-rebounded the Shockers in the first half 9-7, as WSU did not have a rebound until nearly six minutes into the contest. WSU's 20 boards were the fewest by an opponent under Jim Flanery and the fewest dating back to box scores through 1991-92.
Flan Likes Jan.
Head coach Jim Flanery are 5-2 this January, moving Flan's record in the month to 45-18 (.714) all-time. It is by far his most successful month, as his next best winning percentage in a single month is .636 (March). His all-time record in the other four months of the basketball season is 97-80 (.548).
Three For All
Creighton continues to lead the MVC and ranks 22nd in the NCAA this week with 7.5 three-point field goals per game. Of the Bluejays' 15 field goals at Indiana State (Dec. 31), 11 were three-pointers and they followed with 10 more at Illinois State. They have now posted back-to-back games with at least 10 three-pointers twice this year and six times under Jim Flanery. The Bluejays are 5-0 this year when making at least 10 three-pointers and 29-11 when making 10-plus threes under Flanery.
Jays Post Largest Road Wins Since 2002
Creighton's 25-point win (69-44) at Illinois State (Jan. 2) was the largest winning margin in a Bluejay road game since Jan. 14, 2002 and the largest under head coach Jim Flanery. That mark stood for 12 days, before the Jays won at Evansville (Jan. 14) 63-37 for a 26-point winning margin. The previous best road margin under Flan was a 23-point win at UC Irvine (80-57) on Dec. 20, 2002. The Jays did post a 27-point win against Stephen F. Austin on a neutral court in Nov. 2003. CU has logged 22 20-plus point victories under Flanery, including seven on the road.
Next to 1,000?
Kelsey Woodard and Chevelle Herring hope to join Megan Neuvirth with 1,000 career points this year and in doing so will become the first trio of Bluejays to reach the 1,000 point plateau in the same season. Woodard currently has 967 points and Herring has 940. Woodard is aiming to become the first junior to reach 1,000 career points at CU since Angie Janis did so in 2004-05.
Steady Chevy
Chevelle Herring had a solid four-assist, zero-turnover game for the Bluejays in their win at Illinois State (Jan. 2), marking the first time in her career she had more than two assists in a game with zero turnovers. It was also just the second time in her last 47 games she did not have a turnover and the sixth time in her career finishing without a turnover while playing at least 20 minutes.
Let's 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 17 assists in 15 games, including a career-best four against Wichita State (Jan. 7). 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 dishing 17 this year.
Good Losses?
Creighton lost its final three non-conference games, but each of the three opponents were ranked in the top 25. The average RPI of Creighton's four non-conference losses is currently 19.3 – Nebraska (4), Oklahoma (8), Kansas (31) and Marquette (34).
Career Milestone Updates
• Sam Schuett recorded her 500th career rebound against Wichita State (Jan. 7).
• Schuett is four three-pointers shy of becoming the 15th player at CU with 100 career three-point field goals.
• Megan Neuvirth started the season ranked sixth in school history with 211 career steals, but now ranks fifth with 254 swipes.
• Neuvirth grabbed her 800th career rebound against Missouri State (Jan. 9), ranking second in CU history with 834 after starting the season ranked seventh with 714 boards.
• Neuvirth became the 20th player in CU history to score 1,000 career points, doing so against Wichita State (Jan. 7) and she now ranks 19th in CU history in scoring.
• 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 into fifth in CU history with 176 career triples.
• Woodard scored her 900th point at Indiana State (Dec. 31).
• Chevelle Herring scored her 900th career point against Oklahoma (Dec. 20).
Bluejays & Bison Can't Beat Blizzard
The Christmas Blizzard that hit much of the midwest cost Creighton its final non-conference game of the season, as its game with North Dakota State on Dec. 28 was cancelled. The contest was called off when NDSU notified Creighton it was unable to get its players back to Fargo from Christmas break in time to make the trip down I-29 to Omaha. The teams were unable to find a suitable date to reschedule this year and the Bison will be put back on the Creighton home schedule next season. Fans with tickets to that game can redeem them for any home game this season.
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).
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 High-Scoring 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.
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).
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).
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 is averaging 12.9 points and leads the team with 8.1 rebounds per game. She has six games with at least 10 rebounds and has five double-doubles to lead the team this year.
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.
Last Home Game of the 00's
Creighton's loss to No. 15 Oklahoma on Dec. 20 proved to be its final home game of the decade. The Jays enjoyed their most successful decade at home in school history, winning 101 of their 135 home games for a .748 winning percentage from 2000 to 2009.
Creighton Home Records by Decade
W L Pct.
1970s 30 12 .714
1980s 91 37 .711
1990s 93 35 .727
2000s 101 34 .748
Decade Breakdown
Creighton's 185 wins last decade were the most of any decade in school history, topping the 1990s 177 wins. The Jays posted a .595 winning percentage in the 00s compared to a .621 winning percentage in the 90s. See the chart below:
Bluejays by Decade
W L Pct.
2000s 185 125 .597
1990s 177 108 .621
1980s 151 132 .534
1970s 60 52 .536
Decade of Success
In the recently concluded decade, the Bluejays won 59.7 percent of their games, going 185-125. The only MVC team to win more last decade was Drake, with 191 wins and a 61.9 winning percentage.
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.
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).
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.
