Creighton University
Bradley
Braves Beat Bluejays, 72-62, in Women's Basketball
2/19/2010 10:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
EAST PEORIA, Ill. - A decisive 16-2 Bradley run early in the second half helped the Braves overcome a three-point halftime deficit in defeating the Creighton women's basketball team 72-62 Friday night at the Lorene Ramsey Gym. The Bluejays scored the first four points of the second-half to equal their largest lead of the game, only to be countered by Bradley's run. The win gave the Braves their first ever season-sweep of the Bluejays, as Bradley moved to 13-10 overall and 9-4 in Missouri Valley Conference play. The Jays fell to 15-8, 10-4 in the MVC while having their third three-game winning streak of the season snapped.
The Braves dominated the second half after a back-and-forth first stanza. The first half witnessed seven lead changes and six ties, with the Bluejays claiming the final lead change by scoring the final four points to own a 33-30 lead at the break. Bradley scored the first four points of the game, but the Bluejays answered with eight straight points. The Jays led 20-13 with 8:14 left in the opening half, but the Braves answered with a 9-0 run to jump ahead 22-20. Chevelle Herring hit a pair of baskets inside of a minute to play to put the Jays ahead by three at halftime.
The Jays out-rebounded the Braves 17-14 in the first half and committed only three turnovers in building their three-point halftime lead.
Creighton scored the first two baskets of the second half to move to a 37-30 lead and force BU head coach Paula Buscher to take a timeout. The break took away the Jays' momentum and gave it to the home team. The Braves scored 12 straight points during their 16-2, game-changing run as Bradley used its rebounding to take control of the game.
After falling behind 46-39, Ally Jensen stopped Bradley's 12-0 burst with a three-pointer, ending a better than five-minute field goal drought with 12:16 to play. Creighton would climb back within one, down 48-47 with 10:53 left, but would never regain the lead.
The Braves out-rebounded the Bluejays 26-16 after halftime, while the Bluejays committed 11 of their 14 turnovers in the second half. Bradley capitalized on CU's turnovers, out-scoring the Jays 24-16 in points off turnovers in the game. BU finished with 18 offensive rebounds, including 14 in the second half.
Sonya Harris led the rebounding charge for BU, as the junior snagged 10 offensive boards among her 14 caroms. She added a game-high 23 points, six assists and three blocked shots as well. Hanna Muegge tallied 16 points, making 4-of-5 three-pointers for the Braves, while Katie Yohn added 11. Jenny Van Kirk chipped in 10 boards as the Braves owned a 40-33 final rebounding margin.
Megan Neuvirth led the Jays with 20 points and three steals, but also committed six turnovers. Herring joined Neuvirth in double figures with 14 points, but also had six turnovers in the loss. Sam Schuett and Kellie Nelson each had 10 rebounds, but Nelson had only one after halftime.
Creighton will look to get back on the winning track when it plays at Northern Iowa on Sunday. The Bluejays and Panthers will play live on ESPNU at 7:05 p.m.
NOTES: Sam Schuett's streak of 15 straight games of 10 or more points came to an end, she finished with nine ... Schuett did not have a three-pointer in the game, after making three three-pointers in each of her last five contests ... After out-rebounding their first 10 MVC opponents, the Jays have been out-rebounded in three of their last four games ... CU has now lost three straight on BU's home court after winning 17 straight in Peoria ... Herring now has 992 points, eight shy of becoming the third Bluejay this year to reach 1,000 career points (Neuvirth, Woodard) ... The Jays are now 14-3 when leading at halftime this year and 12-4 when making at least six three-pointers.
