Women's Hoops Hosts Evansville Saturday Morning

Game 22 vs. Evansville • Saturday, Feb. 13 • 11:05 a.m.
Evansville Purple Aces 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 25-10
Last Meeting: Creighton won 63-37, Jan. 14, 2010 in Evansville

• The game can be heard on KOIL AM 1180 in Omaha and online at www.koilam1180.com. Brad Burwell and former Bluejay Ally Thrall 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.

• Fans are invited to wear pink as part of Creighton's Pink Zone game, a WBCA promotion to help raise awareness for breast cancer.

• With 10 points on Thursday, Kelsey Woodard became the 21st player in school history to score 1,000 career points and the first junior to hit the mark since Angie Janis did so in 2004-05.

• Sam Schuett has scored in double figures in 14 straight games and is 12-for-22 (.545) from three-point range in her last four contests.

• Schuett ranks 11th in the NCAA in free-throw percentage (.886) and is tops in the MVC in league games free-throw percentage (.974).

• SIU's 21.7 field goal percentage against Creighton on Thursday was the lowest recorded field goal percentage by an opponent in school history.

• CU's 26-point win at Evansville last month is the largest winning margin in a road game under Jim Flanery.

• CU is 11-4 in Omaha against Evansville.

Scouting the Bluejays
Creighton is 8-3 at home this year, 4-2 in MVC play (after going 16-2 at home in MVC play in the previous two seasons) ... The Bluejays lead the MVC and rank 17th in the NCAA with 7.5 three-pointers per game ... CU tops the MVC, allowing just 58.2 ppg and only 54.8 ppg in league play ... Creighton is second in the MVC with a +8.9 rebounding margin in MVC play, out-rebounding 11 of its 12 Valley opponents this year ... 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 12.8 points and 2.3 steals per game and tops all active MVC players in career rebounds (863) and steals (260) ... Junior forward Sam Schuett tops the team in rebounds (7.7), free-throw percentage (.886), 3FG percentage (.422), 3FG made (43), blocks (25) and double-doubles (5) ... Schuett also leads the team with 14.6 points per game in MVC play ... Junior guard Kelsey Woodard (10.9) has 181 career three-pointers and junior center Kellie Nelson (10.6) also score in double figures.

Scouting the Purple Aces
Evansville's lone MVC win came against Wichita State on Jan. 28, it has since lost four straight ... UE is 1-9 on the road overall ... The Purple Aces rank last in the MVC in offense (57.1), defense (73.0), scoring margin (-15.9), FG percent (.355), FG percent defense (.443), rebounding (34.1) and rebounding margin (-7.8) ... Nebraska native Amy Gallagher is the only Ace averaging more than 10 points, with a team-best 10.4 points. She also leads UE with 65 assists and 36 steals and chips in 4.1 boards per game ... Samantha Heck leads UE with 5.1 rebounds per game ... Stephanie Bamberger tops the Aces with 24 three-pointers on the season.

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 145-99 (.594). 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 12-4 all-time against Evansville.    Misty Murphy (Colorado State, 1998) is in her second season at Evansville and second as a Division I head coach, with a record of 19-38 (.333). A three-year stint as an assistant at Rice preceded her UE appointment. She was previously a head coach at NCAA Division II Colorado State-Pueblo and Sheridan Junior College in Wyoming. Her career head coaching mark is 126-95 (.570).

Creighton-Evansville Series History
The Bluejays lead the all-time series with Evansville 25-10, including an 11-4 mark in Omaha. The Jays have won four of the last five meetings overall and 15 of the last 19 meetings with the Purple Aces.

Last Month Against Evansville
Kellie Nelson scored 19 points, making 8-of-9 field goals for her then career-high total, as CU knocked of Evansville 63-37. CU opened the game on a 25-10 run and led 29-14 at the half.. Megan Neuvirth did not play in the second half due to a knee injury. Sam Schuett had a career-high seven steals to go along with her 13 points and 11 rebounds. The Jays shot just 4-of-25 (.160) from three-point range, but made 22-of-36 (.611) shots inside the arc. The Aces shot just 25.5 percent and made 13 field goals in the   Samantha Heck was UE's leading scorer with eight points off the bench. Amy Gallagher went 2-for-15 from the field for UE.

Bluejay Individuals vs. Purple Aces
Sam Schuett leads the team with 11.2 points per game against UE, also adding 7.2 rebounds per game in five meetings with the Aces. Kelsey Woodard adds 10.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game against UE, shooting just 10-of-34 (.294) from long range. Kellie Nelson averages 10.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game against UE, shooting 27-of-41 (.659) from the field. Megan Neuvirth has averaged 8.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per game in eight meetings with the Aces – she had eight rebounds and no points against UE last month, all in the first half. Chevelle Herring chips in 7.3 points and Kelsey Crites adds 6.3 points and 4.6 boards per game against UE.

The Worst (or best) Ever
Southern Illinois shot 21.7 percent (13-60) from the field against Creighton on Thursday night, the lowest recorded field goal percentage by an opponent in Creighton history. The Salukis went the final 9:17 of the first half without a field goal and made just 5-of-27 (.185) shots in the first half.

Woodard is Grand
Kelsey Woodard joined Megan Neuvirth in reaching the 1,000 career-point club this season. With her 10 points against SIU (Feb. 11) she became the 21st player in school history to score 1,000 career points (older sister Kristi is also a member of the club).   Woodard is the first junior to reach 1,000 career points at Creighton since Angie Janis did so in 2004-05.

Herring Next in Line
Chevelle Herring hopes to join Neuvirth and Herring 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. Herring has 971 points entering the Evansville game.

Schuett's Shooting
Sam Schuett ranks 11th in the NCAA with her 88.6 free-throw percentage this season, while her career 83.1 free-throw percentage (172-207) ranks second in school history. She leads the MVC, shooting 97.4 percent (37-38) at the line in league games.
    Schuett is shooting 12-of-22 (.545) from three-point range in her last four games, making three treys in each contest. She now leads the team with 43 three-pointers made this year and a 42.2 three-point field goal percentage. Her career three-point percentage of 38.7 ranks seventh in CU history (ahead of Kelsey Woodard's 10th-place 38 percent).

Schuett Joins the Club
Junior Sam Schuett drained her 100th career three-pointer in CU's game at Missouri State (Feb. 5), becoming the 15th player in school history to reach that mark. She now ranks 13th in CU history with 105 treys, joining Chevelle Herring (122) and Kelsey Woodard (179) as current Jays in the club.

Rebound the Rebounds
Creighton owns a plus-8.9 rebounding margin in MVC play (second to Bradley's 9.0). The Jays out-rebounded each of their first 10 MVC opponents this season, before Wichita State edged the Jays 28-25 on the glass on Feb. 7. The 25 rebounds (and five offensive boards) were the fewest by the Bluejays this season. CU has out-rebounded its MVC foes in 39 of its last 48 regular-season conference games, while the 10 straight games with a rebounding advantage were the longest stretch under Jim Flanery.

Bluejays are No Bird Brains
Four of the 10 spots on CoSIDA's ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VII Teams were claimed by Bluejays when the teams were announced on Feb. 4. Juniors Kellie Nelson (3.88 GPA, Mathematics) and Sam Schuett (3.77 GPA, Accounting) were honored on the first team and senior Megan Neuvirth (3.36 GPA, Marketing) and junior Kelsey Woodard (3.79 GPA, Finance) were named to the second team. The Jays had never had more than two players honored in one season and never had two players on the first-team in one season. Becky Flynn (1996), Carrie Welle (1997, '98) and Dayna Finch (2004) were the only three previous first-team all-district honorees.

Fifty-Fifty
Creighton has shot better than 50 percent in a game four times this season, winning each contest. The Jays have now won 12 consecutive games when shooting at least 50 percent from the field, dating to a loss at UALR to open the 2006-07 season. The Bluejays are 22-1 when shooting at least 50 percent from the floor under Jim Flanery.

X-X First-Half Leads to X-X Finish
Creighton started MVC play 7-2 for the second straight season. The previous four times CU had at least seven wins in the first half of conference play, it finished first or second in the league. This marks the 15th time in 18 seasons as a member of the MVC that the Jays have posted a winning record through the first half of the league schedule. In each of the previous two seasons, the Jays have posted identical MVC marks in the first and second half of Valley play.

    Season    1st Half    Overall    Finish
    2009-10    7-2    9-3    ??
    2008-09    7-2    14-4    2nd
    2007-08    6-3    12-6    4th
    2006-07    5-4    8-10    6th
    2005-06    4-5    5-13    T-9th
    2004-05    8-1    13-5    T-2nd
    2003-04    8-1    15-3    2nd
    2002-03    6-3    13-5    T-1st
    2001-02    8-1    16-2    1st
    2000-01    5-4    11-7    4th
    1999-00    4-5    7-11    6th
    1998-99    5-4    9-9    7th
    1997-98    7-2    11-7    3rd
    1996-97    4-5    7-11    8th
    1995-96    6-3    10-8    T-4th
    1994-95    6-3    12-6    4th
    1993-94    8-0    14-2    2nd
    1992-93    7-1    12-4    T-2nd

Sam's Record Streak Ends
Junior forward Sam Schuett made a school-record 40 straight free-throw attempts between Dec. 13 and Jan. 29, missing her second attempt against Drake on Jan. 29. Her streak ranks third in league history, behind Katie Miller's (UNI, 2000) 53 and Indiana State's Kelsey Luna's 44, which was set earlier this year.

More from Moore
Sophomore DaNae Moore drained her first career three-pointer (on just her third career attempt) in Creighton's win over Drake (Jan. 29), helping her 3-for-3 performance from the field. Moore finished with seven points against DU. She had scored three points through 10 games this year, but has since scored 29 points in her last nine. She is 10-for-20 (.500) from the field in that span, after starting the season 0-for-7 through 10 games. She is a perfect 7-for-7 at the free-throw in Valley play after starting 3-for-8 (.375).

Rebounding Record in Sight
With 863 career boards, Megan Neuvirth remains on pace to set a school record for career caroms. In second place in CU history, she is currently 61 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.
    Her 863 rebounds are tops among active MVC players and rank 14th in Valley history. She is 37 caroms shy of becoming the 12th player in league history with 900 rebounds in a career.

Live and Die by the Three
Creighton leads the MVC and ranks 17th 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 39.3 percent (125-318) from three-point range, an average of 8.9 threes per game, in wins. In losses, the Jays have made only 32-of-127 for 25.2 percent at an average of 4.6 per game.

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.

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 (Jan. 24). 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 on Jan. 24. 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.

Peaks and Valleys
In Creighton's first nine MVC games, the Bluejays shot better than 56 percent three times, but also shot below 29 percent twice. In that same span, Bluejay opponents shot at least 50 percent from the field three times and shot less than 27 percent twice. CU set a school record by shooting 64 percent from the field against Wichita State (Jan. 9), only to shoot 22.7 percent against Bradley (Jan. 22) less than two weeks later. Missouri State shot an opponent season-high 54.5 percent and scored an opponent season-high 82 points against the Jays on Jan. 9, only to see the Jays turn around and limit Evansville to CU opponent lows of 37 points and 25.5 field goal percentage in its next game (Jan. 14).

Holy Schuett
Forward Sam Schuett leads the team with five double-doubles this year. She has scored in double figures in 14 straight games and leads the team with 14.6 points per game in MVC play. Schuett averaged a double-double through her first three MVC games at 15.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.

Top-Ranked Defense
Creighton's defense ranks atop the MVC, allowing just 59.0 points per game, including just 56.1 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.

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).

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 first three MVC road wins had 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.

Double the Double-Doubles
For the second time in their careers, Megan Neuvirth and Sam Schuett recorded a double-double in the same game on Jan. 24, 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.

They Keep Whistling
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 – the most attempted by an MVC school this year. 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.

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.

No Longer Blue Herring
Chevelle Herring led the Bluejays 13 points per game last year, but ranks fifth on the team with 6.8 ppg this year. Before her 12 points against UNI (Jan. 24), 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 14 single-digit scoring games of CU's 20 contests this year, after she had 12 single-digit scoring games in 34 contests all of last year.

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.

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.

At Home in The Valley
Creighton is 20-4 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 4-2 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 19 of their last 23 home games and are 80-27 (.748) at home under Jim Flanery. The Jays are now 74-23 (.763) all-time on-campus (8-3 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 319-120 (.727) recorded home record all-time at 12 different “home” sites.

Balanced Attack
Four players are now averaging double figures on the season for the Bluejays, led by Megan Neuvirth's 12.8 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.

Neuvirth's Knee is OK
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.

Career Milestone Update
• Kelsey Woodard scored her 1,000 career point against Southern Illinois (Feb. 11), becoming the 21st player to reach that plateau. • She was 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 181 career triples.
• Sam Schuett recorded her 500th career rebound against Wichita State (Jan. 7).
• Schuett drained her 100th career three-pointer at Missouri State (Feb. 5), becoming the 15th player to reach that mark.
• Megan Neuvirth started the season ranked sixth in school history with 211 career steals, but now ranks fifth with 260 swipes.
• Neuvirth grabbed her 800th career rebound against Missouri State (Jan. 9), ranking second in CU history with 863 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 17th in CU history in scoring.
• Chevelle Herring scored her 900th career point against Oklahoma (Dec. 20).

The State of Basketball in Nebraska
Creighton's starting lineup in 19 of its 20 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 to open the season). 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).

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 17th in school history with 1,111 career points.

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.

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 went 6-2 in January, moving his record in the month to 46-18 (.719) all-time. It is by far his most successful month, as his next best winning percentage in a single month is .636 (March). Flan's all-time record in the other four months of the basketball season is 99-81 (.550).

Three For All
Creighton continues to lead the MVC and ranks 17th 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.

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 18 assists in 20 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 18 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 18.8 – Nebraska (4), Oklahoma (8), Kansas (24) and Marquette (39).

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.

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.

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

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.

Players Mentioned

Jasmin Corbin

Kelsey Crites

Katie Frank

Chevelle Herring

Ally Jensen

DaNae Moore

Kellie Nelson

Megan Neuvirth

Sam Schuett

Kristina Voss

Kelsey Woodard

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