Women's Basketball Season Tips Off Wednesday With Exhibition

Exhibition vs. Northwest Missouri St. • Wednesday, Nov. 3 • 5:35 p.m.
Northwest Missouri State Bearcats at Creighton Bluejays
Ryan Athletic Center & D.J. Sokol Arena • Omaha, Neb.
Radio: 1180 AM, www.koilam1180.com
Video: www.gocreighton.com
Regular-Season Series History: NWMSU leads 5-4

• 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 a four-month fee of $34.95 or a monthly fee of $10.95. More information is available at www.gocreighton.com.

• Creighton went 12-3 at home last year in its first season at D.J. Sokol Arena, winning its lone exhibition game, an 80-57 triumph over Nebraska-Omaha.

• The game against Northwest Missouri State will be Creighton's fifth straight exhibition against an MIAA member – two against Central Missouri and two against UNO.

• CU opens the regular-season Friday, Nov. 12 against Liberty as part of the Sheraton Raleigh Wolfpack Invitational hosted by North Carolina State. The Jays will play either the College of Charleston or NC State on Saturday, Nov. 13.

• Creighton is 13-0 in exhibition games under head coach Jim Flanery and the Jays have not lost a preseason game since 2000 - a streak of 16 straight wins.

• Creighton is playing just one exhibition game for the fourth time in the last five seasons. CU did play in a closed door scrimmage at Iowa on Sunday, October 31.

• Kelsey Woodard led five Bluejays in double figures with 17 points in last year's exhibition game. Jasmin Corbin and Sam Schuett each had 10 points in last year's exhibition.

Scouting the Bluejays
The Bluejays are picked to finish third in the Missouri Valley Conference this year, receiving seven first place votes ... Creighton returns six letterwinners and three starters from last year's team which finished 21-11 and 13-5 (2nd) in the MVC ... The Jays advanced to the second round of the WNIT for the third straight season last year and played in the event for the sixth time in eight years ... CU led the MVC and ranked 21st in the NCAA with 7.3 three-pointers per game last year ... The Bluejays ranked in the top-25 in fewest turnovers per game for the second straight season, finishing 22nd last year with 14.7 turnovers per game ...
The Jays return three of their top four scorers in senior starters Sam Schuett (12.9), Kellie Nelson (9.5) and Kelsey Woodard (9.4) ... Schuett a first-team all-MVC honoree last year, led the Jays in points (414), three-pointers (65), 3FG percentage (.422), rebounds (240 blocks (38) and double-doubles (7) ... Her 42.2 3FG percentage led the MVC and ranked 18th in the NCAA ... Woodard enters the season already one of 22 players in school history with 1,000 career points and fourth in CU history with 193 career three-pointers ... Six of CU's 12 roster spots are freshmen, the largest rookie scholarship class at CU in 13 years ... Sarah Nelson joins older sister Kellie as the first Bluejay sibling duo to play in the same season since 1978-79.

Scouting the Bearcats
Northwest Missouri State posted a 14-15 overall record last year, including 9-11 for a fifth-place finish in the MIAA ... The Bearcats are picked to finish fourth in the MIAA this year, led by former Bluejay Abby Henry ... Henry, who redshirted at Creighton in 2007-08, led Northwest with 17.1 points and 3.4 assists per game last year, earning second-team all-MIAA honors ... Millard North graduate Gentry Dietz (14.7 ppg, 8.4 rpg) is on the Northwest roster but has just one semester of eligibility remaining and will not play in the exhibition.

The Coaches
Jim Flanery (Creighton, 1987) is in his ninth season as head coach at his alma mater, where he has led his team to six WNIT postseason appearances and five 20-win seasons. He owns a career record of 152-103 (.596). 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. Flan is 13-0 in exhibition games. Gene Steinmeyer (Nebraska-Kearney, 1973) enters his 12th season at Northwest Missouri State with a record of 154-160 (.490) and a career record of 514-302 (.630) in 26 seasons as a collegiate head coach.

Recent Exhibition History
The Bluejays are 20-1 in their last 21 exhibition contests, dating back to 1998.

Exhibition Results
11-04-98    Creighton 76, Lithuania 57
11-10-98    Creighton 86, Neb. All Stars 67
11-03-99    Creighton 89, Neb. All Stars 73
11-09-99    Creighton 89, Latvia 67
11-07-00    Latvia 70, Creighton 55
11-12-00    Creighton 75, Nebraska-Omaha 63
11-04-01    Creighton 85, Nebraska-Omaha 57
11-07-01    Creighton 100, Lithuania 48
11-04-02    Creighton 86, Team Concept 64
11-10-02    Creighton 98, Nebraska-Omaha 61
11-01-03    Creighton 64, South Dakota 54
11-09-03    Creighton 82, Nebraska-Kearney 75
11-01-04    Creighton 80, South Dakota 54
11-06-04    Creighton 87, Nebraska-Kearney 57
11-06-05    Creighton 82, Central Missouri 74
11-12-05    Creighton 81, South Dakota 48
11-05-06    Creighton 83, South Dakota 74
11-01-07    Creighton 88, Central Missouri 48
11-04-08    Creighton 93, Nebraska-Omaha 68
11-08-08    Creighton 78, Central Missouri 56
11-05-09    Creighton 80, Nebraska-Omaha 57

Last Year's Exhibition
Creighton defeated Nebraska-Omaha, 80-57, on Nov. 5, 2009 in the first basketball game played inside 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. Sam Schuett and Jasmin Corbin each had 10 points, as Corbin went 3-for-6 from three-point range in 15 minutes off the bench.

Preseason Picks
The Bluejays have been picked to finish third in the MVC preseason poll as voted on by league coaches, media and sports information directors. CU received seven first place votes, second only to preseason favorite Missouri State's 27. The Jays earned 328 points in the poll, just one behind second-place Northern Iowa. The Jays have finished even or higher than their predicted finish in six of Jim Flanery's first eight years at the helm.

They're Back
The Bluejays return six letterwinners and three starters as Creighton's trio of seniors – center Kellie Nelson, forward Sam Schuett, guard Kelsey Woodard – are all back in the starting lineup. Junior DaNae Moore and sophomore Jasmin Corbin and Ally Jensen are also back after seeing significant playing time last year.

Flock of Freshmen
Half of the Creighton roster is made up of freshmen this season. The six-member freshman class equals the largest rookie class in the nine-year tenure of head coach Jim Flanery, as the 2005-06 team also had six freshmen. All six Bluejay rookies this season are on scholarship, marking the first time since the 1997-98 season that Creighton has at least six freshman on scholarship.

Creighton's Sisterhood
One of Creighton's six freshmen is Sarah Nelson, younger sister of Bluejay senior Kellie Nelson, continuing a recent trend of sisters playing for the Jays. Current senior Kelsey Woodard followed in the footsteps of older sister Kristi (2002-06), while Laura (2001-05) and Krissie (1997-01) Spanheimer also had a family tradition at Creighton. The Nelsons however, are just the second recorded sister duo to play alongside each other at Creighton, joining Peggy and Patty Bierle during the 1978-79 season.

Norman to Redshirt
Freshman forward Riley Norman will take a medical redshirt this season after suffering a torn right ACL during preseason work outs. The rookie had surgery on Oct. 18 to repair the knee, which she also injured at the end of her senior year of high school.

If the Schuett Fits
Senior forward Sam Schuett returns after earning first-team all-MVC notice last year and starts her senior season as a contender for MVC Player of the Year. Schuett led the team in points (414), three-pointers (65), three-point percentage (.422), rebounds (7.5 per game), blocks (38) and double-doubles (7) and ranked among MVC leaders in three-point field goal percentage (1st), rebounding (5th), blocked shots (5th), three-pointers made (6th), field goal percentage (9th), free-throw percentage (9th) and scoring (12th). She ranked 18th in the NCAA with her 42.2 three-point field goal percentage.

More on Sam Schuett
• Enters season third in school history with 81.4 career free throw percentage (193-237).
• Enters season ranked sixth in school history in three-point accuracy, making 39.3 percent of threes (130-331) in her career.
• Enters season ranked 13th in school history with 130 career three-pointers.
• Enters season ranked eighth in school history with 79 career blocked shots.
• Enters season ranked 10th in school history with 653 career rebounds.

1,000 Point Club
Senior Kelsey Woodard entered the 1,000 point club as a junior, beginning her final campaign with 1,081 points. Senior Sam Schuett should become the 23rd member of Creighton's 1,000 point club early in the season as she starts the year with 941 career points.

I'll Take 3-Pointers for 200 Alex
Creighton led the MVC and ranked 21st in the NCAA making 233 three-pointers last year, the third straight season CU eclipsed 200 threes. The Jays have made at least 200 triples in five of Jim Flanery's eight seasons at the helm. Prior to Flanery's tenure, the Jays had made 200 three-pointers in a season just twice in 15 seasons with the three-point line.

Home is Where the Wins Are
Creighton went 12-3 at home last year in its first season at D.J. Sokol Arena, winning its final seven home games to conclude the year. The Bluejays are 84-27 (.757) at home under Jim Flanery, including 56-16 (.778) in MVC play at home under Flanery.

Cheers to Sam and Woody at the Line
Kelsey Woodard (.844) and Sam Schuett (.814) are ranked No. 2 and No. 3 in school history in career free throw percentage, respectively. Both Woodard and Schuett have two of the top-10 free throw percent shooting seasons in school history, including Schuett's 83 percent at the stripe last year. Schuett also set a school record last year by making 40 consecutive free throws, the third-longest streak in MVC history.

Creighton Single-Season Free Throw%
    1.    .892    Kristi Woodard (66-74)    2003-04
    2.    .862    Kristi Woodard (56-65)    2004-05
    3.    .849    Ally Thrall (73-86)    2006-07
    4.    .847    Tanya Warren (83-98)    1985-86
    5.    .846    Kelsey Woodard (66-78)    2008-09
    6.    .841    Kelsey Woodard (74-88)    2007-08
    7.    .833    Sam Schuett (65-78)    2007-08
    8.    .832    Krissie Spanheimer (89-107)    1998-99
    9.    .830    Sam Schuett (83-100)    2009-10
    10.    .826    Holly Sivesind (95-115)    1995-96

Creighton Career Free Throw%
    1.    .862    Kristi Woodard (188-218)    2002-06
    2.    .844    Kelsey Woodard (184-218)    2007-pr.
    3.    .814    Sam Schuett (193-237)    2006-pr.
    4.    .814    Ally Thrall (201-247)    2004-08
    5.    .797    Holly Sivesind (228-286)    1993-97
    6.    .786     Christy Neneman (386-491)    2000-04
    7.    .783    Tanya Warren (300-383)    1983-88
    8.    .775    Connie Yori (416-537)    1982-86
    9.    .771    Krissie Spanheimer (222-288)    1997-01
    10.    .759    Sara Cain (154-203)    2004-08

Nelson's Accuracy is Record-Setting
Kellie Nelson earned MVC All-Tournament honors last year due in large part to her shot-making abilities. Nelson went 15-for-19 from the field to shoot 78.9 percent in CU's three games. The percentage set a school record for a single MVC Tournament. The Bluejay center averaged 11.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. On the season Nelson led the team and ranked third in the MVC, shooting 50.7 percent from the field.

The Ally Way
Ally Jensen led all MVC freshman last year in three-point accuracy, shooting 36.8 percent from long range. Of her 54 made field goals last year, 43 (79.6 percent) were from beyond the arc and of her 140 field goal attempts, 117 (83.6 percent) were from long range.

Nebraska Natives
For the fourth consecutive season, at least half of Creighton's roster is from Nebraska. Last year the Bluejays started five Nebraskans in 29 of their 32 games, marking the first time in recorded history the Jays had an all-Nebraska lineup in one game - let alone 29. Seven of Creighton's 12 players on this year's roster are from Nebraska – Omaha products Jasmin Corbin (Millard West), Kellie Nelson (Westside), Sarah Nelson (Westside) and Sam Schuett (Millard West), Bellevue native Kelsey Woodard (Bellevue West), Seward High graduate Alyssa Kamphaus and Weston native by way of Wahoo Bishop Neumann, McKenzie Fujan.

20-20-20 Wins
Creighton has won at least 20 games in each of its previous three seasons. In school 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 again in three straight (2008-10). The Bluejays have now won 20 games in five of Jim Flanery's eight seasons as head coach. Flanery's predecessor Connie Yori won 20 games three times in her 10 years as CU's head coach, while Bruce Rasmussen captured 20 wins in five of his 12 years leading the Bluejays.

Another Tough Schedule
Creighton again plays the toughest non-conference schedule in the MVC, as eight of the Bluejays' 11 non-conference games will be against teams which appeared in the postseason last year, including a pair of NCAA Sweet 16 teams. CU hosts 2010 Sweet 16 participant Nebraska on Dec. 8 and follows at Sweet 16 team Notre Dame on Dec. 11. Liberty, Bowling Green State and potential foe North Carolina State all played in the NCAA Tournament last year. Wyoming, Marquette and Kansas played in the WNIT last year and potential opponent College of Charleston appeared in the inaugural Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) a year ago.

Women Return to Qwest Center Omaha
The Bluejays will return to Qwest Center Omaha for just the second time in the history of the venue, hosting Kansas on Dec. 22 (prior to a men's game against Samford). The Jays hope for a better outcome than the 51-44 loss suffered to Drake on Feb. 27, 2009 in the only other women's game played at Qwest Center. The Bluejays shot a lowly 21.9 percent in that televised loss.

Kelsey Can Shoot
Kelsey Woodard returns as one of 22 players in school history with 1,000 career points. Woodard is the second-most accurate free-throw shooter in school history (.844), trailing only her sister Kristi (.862) in that category. She begins her senior season ranked fourth in school history with 193 career three-pointers.

Rebounding Record in Reach for Schuett
Creighton lost its all-time leading rebounder to graduation after last season, as Megan Neuvirth's record 929 career rebounds are gone. Neuvirth also set a single-season record with 325 rebounds as a junior. Sam Schuett begins her senior season ranked 10th in school history with 653 career rebounds, having played along side Neuvirth in each of her first three seasons. With Neuvirth gone, perhaps Schuett can nab the 277 boards needed to topple Neuvirth's mark.

Playing the Percentages
Even with three of their top four scorers back, the Bluejays return just 59.9 percent of their scoring from last season. The Jays return 54.4 percent of their rebounding and only 43.4 percent of their assists from last year, as they lost their top two ball distributors Chevelle Herring (81) and Megan Neuvirth (73).

Welcome Coach Carrie Moore
The Bluejays have a new member of the coaching staff this season, assistant coach Carrie Moore. The Western Michigan graduate (2007) led the NCAA in scoring with 25.4 points per game and was the MAC Co-Player of the Year as a senior. She is Western Michigan's all-time leading scorer with 2,224 career points, starting all 120 games in her career for the Broncos. Moore spent the previous two seasons as the Director of Basketball Operations at Princeton.

Women's Basketball Season Tips Off Wednesday With Exhibition

Players Mentioned

Jasmin Corbin

McKenzie Fujan

Chevelle Herring

Ally Jensen

Alyssa Kamphaus

DaNae Moore

Kellie Nelson

Sarah Nelson

Megan Neuvirth

Riley Norman

Sam Schuett

Kelsey Woodard

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