Bluejays Host Marquette in Women's Basketball Sunday Afternoon
11/25/2010 3:32:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Game 5 vs. Marquette • Sunday, Nov. 28 • 2:05 p.m.
Marquette Golden Eagles 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 4-2
Last Meeting: Marquette won 66-59, Nov. 19, 2009 in Milwaukee
Marquette Golden Eagles 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 4-2
Last Meeting: Marquette won 66-59, Nov. 19, 2009 in Milwaukee
• 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 and live video for this game and all home games can be found on the CU athletics website at www.gocreighton.com.
• Marquette is Creighton's fifth opponent in as many games which advanced to the postseason last year. Wyoming and MU played in the WNIT, CU's first three opponents were in the NCAA Tournament last year.
• CU has won its last eight home games and is 13-3 all-time at D.J. Sokol Arena.
• Seven of CU's first 16 opponents at D.J. Sokol Arena have failed to score 55 points, as CU's opponents are averaging just 56.8 points per game all-time at the venue.
• Kelsey Woodard (1,129) is nine points shy of 17th on the CU career scoring charts. Woodard is 5-for-12 (.417) from three-point range in her career against Marquette.
• Sarah Nelson has led the Bluejays in rebounding in three straight games, averaging 8.3 boards in that span.
• Creighton's starters are averaging 31.2 points per game, while the bench is averaging 24.8 points per game this season.
• Creighton is 2-0 all-time against Marquette at home.
Scouting the Bluejays (2-2)
Creighton is 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, advancing to the second round of the WNIT for the third straight season and playing in the event for the sixth time in eight years ... Creighton has yet to find its shooting touch this season, shooting 37.4 percent from the floor, 29.9 percent from three-point range and 55.4 percent at the free throw line, while averaging 56 points per game ... Senior Kelsey Woodard tops the team with 12 points per game ... Freshman Carli Tritz leads the team with nine steals and is second on the team with 9.0 ppg ... Freshman Sarah Nelson leads the team with 7.3 rebounds per game ... First-team all-MVC forward Sam Schuett is averaging 6.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game ...Six of CU's 12 roster spots are freshmen, the largest rookie scholarship class at Creighton in 13 years.
Scouting the Golden Eagles (4-0)
Marquette opened the season with four straight home wins before a road game at Wisconsin on Wednesday ... MU out-scored its first four opponents by an average of 27.5 points (75.0 – 47.5) and out-rebounded them 40.5 – 28.3 ... Four starters are scoring in double figures, led by Paige Fiedorowicz at 12.8 ... Second-team all-Big East guard Angel Robinson is averaging 11.3 points and 5.5 assists per game ... Katherine Plouffe (11.8) and Tatiyiana McMorris (10.3) also score in double figures ... Sarina Simmons leads MU with 6.8 rebounds per game.
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 154-105 (.595). 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 0-3 against Big East teams, 0-2 against Marquette. Terri Mitchell (Duquesne, 1989) is in her 15th season as head coach at Marquette, where she is 276-162 (.630). The all-time winningest coach in program history, she's led MU to six NCAA Tournaments and six WNIT appearances.
Creighton-Marquette Series History
Creighton owns the all-time series lead with Marquette, 4-2, winning the first four meetings before losing the last two – both in Milwaukee. CU lost at Marquette in the WNIT in 2008 and fell at MU 66-59 on Nov. 19 last year. The Jays are 2-0 all-time against the Eagles in Omaha, but MU has not been to Creighton since Dec. 20, 1986. The first four meetings in the series came during the 1985-86 and 1986-87 seasons.
Jesuit Basketball Spotlight
Creighton's game with Marquette is part of the nationwide Jesuit Basketball Spotlight project, using Jesuit basketball to raise awareness of Jesuit education as both Marquette and Creighton are Jesuit institutions. The Jesuit Basketball Spotlight project highlights more than 90 games this season 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.
Beasts from the Big East
Creighton is seeking its first win over a Big East foe under head coach Jim Flanery. Flanery is 0-3 against the conference with two losses to Marquette and a loss at Rutgers in 2007. The Jays have not defeated a Big East team since a win at St. John's on Nov. 28, 1998.
Basketball BCS
While the BCS doesn't apply to the basketball world, it does lay out six major conferences to gauge records against. For the first time in school history, Creighton faced an ACC team this season, falling 84-71 at North Carolina State (Nov. 15). The Jays have four more games against teams from BCS conferences this season – two from the Big East and two from the Big 12. In Jim Flanery's nine seasons at Creighton, the Bluejays are 17-39 (.304) against BCS conference schools – ACC (0-1), Big East (0-3), Big Ten (5-10), Big 12 (8-23), Pac-10 (4-0) and SEC (0-2). Since the 2005-06 season the Jays have only four wins in 32 games against BCS schools (Colorado, Oregon State and 2 vs. Kansas State).
40, 50, 60, 70 ...
In each of Creighton first four matches, the Bluejays' final score has been in a different set of 10. The Jays have had finals in the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s so far. CU has not started the season with four different “decades” of finals since the 1996-97 season. CU opponents have not scored in the same group of 10 yet either, finishing in the 30s, 40s, 70s and 80s.
Defense of D.J.
Creighton won its eighth straight home game by opening its home schedule with a 60-49 win over Wyoming. The Bluejays are now 13-3 all-time at D.J. Sokol Arena. In those 16 games, the Bluejays have allowed 55 of fewer points seven times. Bluejay opponents are averaging just 56.8 points per game in the 16 games played inside D.J. Sokol Arena, while the Jays are averaging 66.3 points per game in their new home venue.
Five for Five
Creighton will be playing its fifth straight postseason team from a year ago to open its season when it hosts Marquette. The Golden Eagles played in the WNIT last year, as did CU's first home opponent Wyoming. Each of CU's first three opponents – Liberty, NC State and Bowling Green – appeared in the NCAA Tournament last year. The average win total of CU's first four opponents during the 2009-10 season was 23.8. Marquette is the first team CU has faced this season that did not eclipse 20 wins last year.
Our Four vs. Your Four Opponents
Creighton's first four opponents of the 2010-11 season each appeared in the postseason last year, three in the NCAA Tournament (Liberty, NC State, Bowling Green) and one in the WNIT (Wyoming). The average win total of those four teams was 23.8 last year, while the combined record of those four teams was 95-39 (.709). While the Jays started the season 2-2 against those teams, Marquette posted a 4-0 mark to start the year. Just one of MU's first four foes made a postseason tournament, Michigan in the WNIT. The combined mark of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Alcorn State, Michigan and Monmouth was 53-70 (.431) last year.
Leading vs. Losing
Creighton's win over Wyoming (Nov. 20) marked the fourth time at D.J. Sokol Arena that the Bluejays never trailed in a game. The Jays have now had more games where they have led wire to wire (4), than they have lost (3) at their new home.
Kamp's Points Per Minute
Alyssa Kamphaus scored four points in six minutes against Wyoming, hitting 2-of-4 shots in that quick span. The freshman scored eight points in eight minutes at Bowling Green (Nov. 15) and has now played 15 minutes in her three appearances. In those 15 minutes, she has scored 12 points – or what equates to 32 points per 40 minutes played.
Home Openers
After its 60-49 win over Wyoming, Creighton is now 25-12 all-time in their season debut at home, including wins in nine of their last 11 home openers. Creighton is 7-2 in home openers under Jim Flanery.
Schuett Closing in on 1,000
Sam Schuett is slowly working her way toward becoming the 23rd player in school history with 1,000 career points. The senior who scored in double figures 25 times in 32 games last year, has scored more than 10 just once in her first four games this year and with her 27 points this season, she now has 968 points.
Kelsey's Climb
Kelsey Woodard has hit seven three-pointers in her first three games this year to become the fourth player in school history and the 22nd in Missouri Valley Conference history to reach 200 career three-pointers. With 48 points through three games this year she now has 1,129 points in her career, surpassing her sister Kristi (1,110) on the Creighton career scoring list, as Kelsey now ranks 18th in school history, just nine points shy of moving past former teammate Ally Thrall (1,137) into 17th. The Woodard's have combined for 2,239 points, as they aim to catch the combined point total of the Spanheimer sisters – Laura and Krissie combined for 2,601 in their CU careers.
Youth Movement
Creighton has six freshmen on the roster this season, with four making their collegiate playing debut during CU's opening week. McKenzie Fujan scored the first five points of the season for Creighton and Carli Tritz led the Jays with seven first-half points in CU's opener. Sarah Nelson has logged CU's only double-double of the season with a team-high 14 points and 10 rebounds at North Carolina State (Nov. 13), and she leads the team with 7.3 rebounds per game through four games. Alyssa Kamphaus scored eight points in eight minutes at Bowling Green (Nov. 15), making all three of her field goal attempts in the game.
Free Throw Follies
Creighton went just 8-for-17 (.471) from the free throw line in its season opener, but bounced back to go 9-for-9 at the line in its second game. CU then made a woeful 7-of-20 (.350) shots at the charity stripe at Bowling Green on Nov. 15 – as Kellie Nelson (0-1), McKenzie Fujan (0-2), Jasmin Corbin (0-3) and Carli Tritz (0-5) combined to go 0-for-11 at the line. On the season, the Jays are now shooting just 55.4 percent (31-56) at the line as a team – on pace for the worst shooting percentage at the line by a CU team since the 1979-80 team shot just 59.1 percent at the charity stripe.
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 now 85-27 (.759) at home under Jim Flanery, including 56-16 (.778) in MVC play at home under Flanery.
Low Scoring Win
Creighton defeated Liberty 40-35 to open the season at the Sheraton Raleigh Wolfpack Invitational on Nov. 12. The 40 points were the fewest scored by the Bluejays in a win since a 40-23 victory over Doane College (Neb.) on Feb. 21, 1977 and the fewest scored overall by the Jays since a 50-35 loss to Eastern Michigan on Dec. 21, 2000. The 35 points for Liberty where the fewest it had scored in a game since Dec. 29, 1993.
Mid-Major Battles
Creighton was ranked No. 20 in CollegeInsider.com's Mid-Major preseason top-25. Two of CU's first three games were against Mid-Major top-10 teams, topping eighth-ranked Liberty and falling at fifth-ranked Bowling Green. BGSU was also receiving votes in the AP Top 25 and the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 to start the season. The Bluejays were ranked 18th in the second week of the Mid-Major Top 25.
Sarah's Solid Start
Freshman Sarah Nelson led the Bluejays with 14 points and 10 rebounds against North Carolina State (Nov. 13). The double-double was the first by a Bluejay freshman since Kelsey Woodard logged her only career double-dime on Jan. 4, 2008 against Wichita State. The rookie has led the team in rebounding in each of her last three games and her 7.3 rebounds per game leads the team. Her 50.0 field goal percentage leads the team, as do her three blocked shots.
Woodard Named All-Tournament Team
Kelsey Woodard led the Bluejays with 10 points per game at the Sheraton Raleigh Wolfpack Invitational, earning her all-tournament recognition at the event. Against Liberty, she drained three three-pointers in the second half to account for all nine of her points and to help CU come from behind and win. She added two more threes and 11 points in the championship game against North Carolina State.
Three Hit the Century Mark
Creighton's three seniors have each reached 100 career games played. Kelsey Woodard has now played in 103 career games, while Kellie Nelson and Sam Schuett played in their 100th career game at Bowling Green on Nov. 15.
Foul Play
Senior Sam Schuett fouled out of two of Creighton's first three games, an unusual experience for the forward. Schuett had fouled out of just three games in her first three seasons and 97 games, before being whistled for five fouls in each at NC State and Bowling Green.
Free Throw Follies
Creighton went just 8-for-17 (.471) from the free throw line in its season opener, but bounced back to go 9-for-9 at the line in its second game. CU then made a woeful 7-of-20 (.350) shots at the charity stripe at Bowling Green on Monday – as Kellie Nelson (0-1), McKenzie Fujan (0-2), Jasmin Corbin (0-3) and Carli Tritz (0-5) combined to go 0-for-11 at the line. On the season, the Jays are now shooting 52.2 percent (24-46) at the line as a team.
Exhibition Recap
Creighton defeated Division II Northwest Missouri State 96-61 in its lone exhibition game on Nov. 3. The Bluejays jumped out to a 19-0 lead and never looked back, leading by as many as 41 in the contest. Creighton's five freshmen scored half (48) of the Bluejays' points in the win, led by Sarah Nelson's team-best 16 points. Fellow freshman Carli Tritz added 11 points and team-best seven assists and four steals, and rookie Jordan Garrison chipped in 10 points. CU's three returning senior starters each had 10+ points, with Kellie Nelson (14), Kelsey Woodard (13) and Sam Schuett (12) each contributing in the blowout. The Jays out-rebounded the Bearcats 52-38 and outscored NWMSU 58-12 in the paint. CU shot 54.1 percent from the field and 41.2 (7-17) percent from three-point range in the win.
Schuett Lowe's Senior CLASS Candidate
Sam Schuett has been named one of 30 candidates nationally for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award which honors seniors for their efforts on and off the court. CLASS stands for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School and to be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in community, classroom, character and competition. Schuett graduated magna cum laude with a degree in accounting in May, has served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, ranked 12th among CU's 232 student-athletes in community service hours last year and is a first-team all-conference player on the court. Ten finalists for the award will be named in January. Creighton is one of five school's nationally (Wisconsin, Ohio State, Lehigh, Duke) to have a male and female as Lowe's Senior CLASS candidates, as CU's Kenny Lawson Jr., is up for the award as well.
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. Only four freshmen have played through three games, as Riley Norman suffered a season-ending knee injury in the preseason and Jordan Garrison is sidelined with a leg injury.
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.
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).
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.
Where Schuett Ranks
• Is third in school history with 81.6 career free throw percentage (200-245).
• Ranked sixth in school history in three-point accuracy, making 39.1 percent of threes (132-338) in her career.
• Tied for 12th in school history with 132 career three-pointers.
• Ranked eighth in school history with 80 career blocked shots.
• Ranked ninth in school history with 679 career rebounds.
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.
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.
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 Vision
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 and North Carolina State all played in the NCAA Tournament last year. Wyoming, Marquette and Kansas played in the WNIT last year.
Kelsey Can Shoot
Kelsey Woodard is one of 22 players in school history with 1,000 career points. Woodard is the second-most accurate free-throw shooter in school history (.846), trailing only her sister Kristi (.862) in that category. She is ranked fourth in school history and 22nd in league history with 202 career three-pointers.
Cheers to Sam and Woody at the Line
Kelsey Woodard (.846) and Sam Schuett (.816) 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
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 started her senior season ranked 10th in school history with 653 career rebounds, and is now ranked ninth in with her 679 boards despite having played along side Neuvirth in each of her first three seasons. With Neuvirth gone, perhaps Schuett can nab the 256 more boards needed to topple Neuvirth's mark.
Four-Game Home Stands
Creighton has two four-game home stands this season after not playing one four-game stand over the past 11 seasons. CU's first four-game home stand is Dec. 18-31, marking the first time the Jays have played four straight at home since Jan. 21-31, 1999. The Jays then play a four-game conference home stand between Jan. 27 and Feb. 5, the longest MVC home stand since that same 1999 stretch.
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.
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.
Preseason Picks
The Bluejays have been picked to finish third in the MVC preseason poll as voted on by league coaches, media and SIDs. 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.
Updated & Extended Coverage
Fans will notice Creighton home games not only have a new live stats platform, but will also benefit from Creighton's change to BCS Stats. The new live stats provider allows fans to follow the live action on their mobile device at www.gocreightonstats.com. Fans can also find more info on Bluejay athletics on Facebook at the “Official Creighton Athletics Page” and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/gocreighton. The women's basketball team also has its own Facebook page, with inside glimpses into the program. Fans can also read assist coach Carrie Moore's blog “Tuesdays With Moore” each Tuesday on www.gocreighton.com.
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