Creighton University
South Dakota
Bluejays Clip Coyotes 79-70 in Women's Basketball Road Win
12/2/2010 10:09:00 PM | Women's Basketball
VERMILLION, S.D. - Creighton made 9-of-16 three-pointers and shot a season-high 48.9 percent from the field in capturing a 79-70 win at South Dakota Thursday night. The Bluejays were led by Kelsey Woodard's 24 points, while Sam Schuett added 19 points, nine rebounds and six assists in the victory.
Creighton (4-2) came out of the gates on fire, surging to an eight-point lead while making its first four attempts from three-point range. The Jays led 22-14 just past the midway point of the first half, following a bucket from Kellie Nelson. CU led 29-22 with 5:38 left and was up six with 3:16 left, but the Coyotes cut the Bluejay lead to 36-35 just before halftime, as Annie Roche drilled a three-pointer with 10 seconds left in the first half.
After making their first four shots from three-point range, the Jays finished the first half 7-of-11 (.636) from long range, while making 50 percent of their shots in the half.
South Dakota (4-4) took its first lead since the first two minutes of the game when it hit the first basket after halftime. The Bluejays responded by scoring six straight points to go ahead by five, but the Coyotes had an answer. CU led 47-41 when the Coyotes scored seven straight to put the home team ahead 48-47 with 12:51 remaining. Creighton bounced back with an 8-0 run and would take its first double digit lead of the game up 61-51 with 5:41 to play.
The Bluejays' largest lead of the night came with 4:29 to play, up 64-53, and it would lead by at least six for the final four minutes.
Creighton made only 3-of-7 free-throws in the first half, but was 23-of-27 from the line in the second half to secure the victory. The Jays shot a season-best 48.9 percent (22-45) from the field and hit 9-of-16 (.563) three-pointers in the win. CU turned the ball over just six times in the game, while swiping six steals.
Woodard scored a season-high 24 points, hitting 7-of-10 shots from the floor, 3-of-4 from long range and 7-of-8 at the free throw line. Schuett scored 16 of her 19 points in the second half and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds. Ally Jensen scored in double figures for the first time this season, not missing a shot in the game, making each of her three three-point attempts and both free throws for 11 points. Carli Tritz chipped in 10 points and added four assists and three steals.
Amber Hegge led the Coyotes with 21 points, making 7-of-12 shots from the field. Roche scored 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting for USD, while Alexis Yackley dished seven assists to pace the home team.
The Bluejays return to the court next week when they host in-state rival and 24th-ranked Nebraska. The Huskers make their first trip to D.J. Sokol Arena on Wednesday, for a 7:05 pm tip.
NOTES: Schuett now has 999 career points, one shy of becoming the 23rd player in CU history with 1,000 points ... Creighton Hall of Famer Becky Flynn-Jensen, now an academic advisor in the USD athletic department, was in the stands Thursday night.
