First-Place Women's Basketball Returns Home to Host UNI Thursday
1/12/2011 12:12:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Game 15 vs. Northern Iowa • Thursday, Jan. 13 • 7:05 p.m.
Northern Iowa Panthers at Creighton Bluejays
Ryan Athletic Center & D.J. Sokol Arena • Omaha, Neb.
Links: Audio (1180 AM) | Video | Live Stats
Series History: Creighton leads 30-14
Last Meeting: UNI won 54-53, March 14, 2010 in St. Charles, Mo.
Northern Iowa Panthers at Creighton Bluejays
Ryan Athletic Center & D.J. Sokol Arena • Omaha, Neb.
Links: Audio (1180 AM) | Video | Live Stats
Series History: Creighton leads 30-14
Last Meeting: UNI won 54-53, March 14, 2010 in St. Charles, Mo.
• 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.
• Creighton has started 3-0 in MVC play for a second straight season and the fourth time in nine years under Jim Flanery. CU is looking for its first 4-0 MVC start since 2005-06.
• The Bluejays lead the MVC, shooting 45.9 percent from the field in conference games, while their 52.3 points allowed per MVC game is also tops in the league.
• Kelsey Woodard is averaging 17.2 points per game, with a team-best 17 assists, in her last five games.
• Five-time MVC Newcomer of the Week Carli Tritz is averaging 11.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game, while shooting 62.9 percent from the field as a starter.
• Alyssa Kamphaus scored a career-high 12 points, going 5-for-5 from the field, including her first career three-pointer, playing just seven minutes at Evansville last Thursday.
• Creighton overcame an 18-point second-half deficit to defeat UNI 62-58 in Omaha last year, the second-largest comeback win under Jim Flanery.
• The Bluejays 19-2 against UNI in Omaha.
Scouting the Bluejays
Creighton (21-11 last year) is picked to finish third in the Missouri Valley Conference this year, receiving seven first place votes ... Creighton went 6-5 in non-conference play, once again playing the toughest non-conference schedule in the MVC ... CU's strength of schedule after non-conference play was 39, while the rest of the MVC's average was 182 ... Creighton is allowing the fewest rebounds per game in the MVC, at just 33.9 boards per game, while it ranks second in the MVC (to UNI) in turnovers margin and assist-turnover ratio ... Senior Kelsey Woodard, who ranks 13th in MVC history with 224 career three-pointers, leads the team with 13.5 points per game, 31 3FG and 92.9 free throw percentage ... Five-time MVC Newcomer of the Week, freshman Carli Tritz (10.3 ppg) leads the team and ranks second in the MVC with 39 steals and ranks among MVC leaders and tops the team with a 51.4 field goal percentage ... First-team all-MVC forward Sam Schuett (10.3 ppg) leads the team with 7.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.
Scouting the Panthers
UNI was picked to finish second in the MVC in the preseason poll after winning the MVC Tournament title last year ... The Panthers are 7-2 in their last nine games and they are 4-3 in true road games this year ... UNI leads the MVC and ranks second in the NCAA in fewest turnovers per game, with just 12.7 ... UNI's league-leading 1.1 assist-turnover ratio ranks 16th in the nation and it leads the MVC with a plus-4.4 turnover margin ... UNI leads the MVC and is eighth in the NCAA in free throw percentage (.786) and tops the MVC with 7.6 three-pointers per game – 24th in the NCAA ... Lizzie Boeck is third in the MVC in scoring (15.1) and leads the MVC with 8.3 rebounds per game, including 11.0 rebounds per game in MVC play ... Jacqui Kalin (14.6 ppg) is second in the MVC in free throw percentage (.926) ... Katelin Oney (10.3 ppg) is second in the MVC in three-point field goal percentage (.434).
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 161-108 (.599), the highest winning percentage by a coach in CU history. 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 11-7 against UNI in his career. UNI is coached by Creighton athletics Hall of Famer Tanya Warren (Creighton, 1988). Warren, one of two CU players with her number retired, is 51-58 (.468) in her fourth season as a collegiate head coach. Prior to UNI, Warren spent three seasons at Creighton as the associate head coach and was an assistant at UNI from 1995-2001. Warren is 2-5 against Creighton.
Creighton-UNI Series History
Creighton owns the all-time series lead with UNI, 30-14, including 19-2 in Omaha. The Bluejays have won the last three meetings in Omaha. Creighton had a five-game winning streak in the series stopped last year, as UNI won 73-57 in Cedar Falls and then came-from-behind to top the Jays 54-53 in the MVC Tournament championship game.
Last Year Against UNI
The Bluejays needed the second-largest comeback since 2002-03 to defeat UNI 62-58 at home last January, but lost at UNI 73-57 in February and then fell 54-53 in the MVC Championship game. CU trailed UNI 33-17 at half at home last Jan. 24, but out-scored UNI 45-25 in the second half including a 28-10 game closing run. Sam Schuett (14 p, 11 r) and Megan Neuvirth (20 p, 10 r) each had double-doubles in the win, while Kelsey Woodard was held scoreless for the first time in her career. CU shot just 30.2 percent from the field in its loss at UNI, while UNI made 20-of-21 free throws and shot 47.1 percent in the win, led by Lizzie Boeck's (then) career-high 24 points. UNI scored the final nine points of its 54-53 win in the championship game, as CU didn't score in the final 7:46. CU averaged 57.3 points per game against UNI last year, with 28.3 points per game coming from Neuvirth and Chevelle Herring.
Individuals against UNI
Sam Schuett averages 10.6 points and 8.7 rebounds per game in her career against UNI, shooting 47.3 percent from the field. Kelsey Woodard averages 6.0 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, shooting only 11-of-55 (.200) from the field and 5-of-22 (.227) from three-point range against UNI in her career. Kellie Nelson shoots 50 percent (15-30) in her career against UNI, but is averaging just 4.9 points and 3.7 rebounds per game against the Panthers.
Flanery On Top of the Valley
Since taking over as the Bluejay head coach for the 2002-03 season, Jim Flanery has led the Bluejays to more Missouri Valley Conference wins than any other program in that span. See the chart below for records in regular-season MVC games since 2002-03.
MVC Records Since 2002-03
Records prior to Jan. 13
School W-L Pct.
Creighton 96-51 .653
Indiana State 91-56 .619
Illinois State 87-61 .592
Northern Iowa 85-63 .574
Drake 82-65 .558
Missouri State 83-66 .557
Bradley 66-82 .446
Evansville 62-86 .419
Wichita State 45-103 .304
Southern Illinois 42-106 .284
Perfect Start
Creighton is the lone remaining unbeaten team in the MVC, starting 3-0 for the second straight season and for the fourth time in nine years under head coach Jim Flanery. The Bluejays are looking to move to 4-0 for the first time since the 2005-06 season. The best MVC start under Flanery came in the 2004-05 season when CU won its first six Valley games.
Woodard Climbing the Charts
Senior Kelsey Woodard moved from 16th to 12th on the Creighton scoring charts last week, as she now has 1,270 career points. She moved past Holly Sivesind (1,250), Megan Neuvirth (1,257), Dayna Finch (1,260) and Angela Timmons (1,263) on the Jays' scoring list and is now 86 points shy of the top-10. She also moved past MVC and NCAA legend Jackie Stiles in career three-pointers, as her 224 career triples are more than the 221 Stiles made in her record-setting career. Woodard now ranks 13th in MVC history with her 224 career threes.
Tritz Honored by MVC for Fifth Time
For the third straight week and the fifth time in the first nine weeks of her career, Carli Tritz was named the MVC Newcomer of the Week on Monday. The freshman guard has now won the honor on Nov. 29, Dec. 13, Dec. 27, Jan. 3 and Jan. 10. Last week she averaged 11 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game in CU's two road victories, while making 66.7 percent (10-15) of her shots. The week prior, she had 15 points, six rebounds and five steals against Drake (Dec. 31) in her MVC debut. She filled up the stat sheet in games against North Dakota (Dec. 20) and Kansas (Dec. 22) – averaging 9.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Creighton's Kelsey Woodard owns the MVC record with six Newcomer of the Week honors during the 2007-08 season.
Tritz the Starter
Since moving into the staring lineup on Dec. 20, freshman Carli Tritz is averaging 11.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game. She is shooting 62.9 percent from the field as a starter, including 3-of-4 (.750) from three-point range. In her nine games as a reserve, the guard averaged 9.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game, making 45.9 percent of her shots from the floor.
Woodard's High Five
Kelsey Woodard is averaging a team-leading 17.2 points per game in her last five outings, while her 17 assists in that same span are tops on the team (she had 13 assists in her first nine games). The senior is shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 44.8 percent from three-point range in her last five games, after averaging 11.4 points and shooting 37.5 percent from the field and 34.6 percent from long range through her first nine games.
The Kamphaus Dozen
Freshman Alyssa Kamphaus scored a career-high 12 points, making all five of her field goal attempts, while playing just seven minutes in her MVC debut at Evansville (Jan. 6). Included in the five makes for the rookie center, was what she said was the first three-pointer she has ever made in a game in her life.
Garrison Makes Debut
Freshman guard Jordan Garrison did not play in Creighton's first 12 games, after not dressing for the first 11 because of a stress fracture in her left leg. She dressed, but did not play, against Drake (Dec. 31), before finally making her collegiate debut at Evansville (Jan. 6). The rookie misfired on her first three-point attempt but knocked down her second try for her first career points.
League Leaders
Through its first three MVC games, Creighton is shooting 45.9 percent from the field to lead The Valley. The Bluejays have allowed just 52.3 points per game in Valley play, which is also tops in the league. Kelsey Woodard is tied for the MVC lead with a perfect free throw percentage (6-for-6) and Carli Tritz is tied for the Valley lead with 11 steals in conference only games.
Schuett's Rise on Rebounding Chart
With 758 rebounds, senior Sam Schuett has now surpassed Creighton Hall of Famers Connie Yori (746) and Kathy Halligan (749) to rank fifth in school history in rebounds.
Tritz MVC Debut, Second to One
Carli Tritz scored 15 points in her MVC debut against Drake on Dec. 31. The 15 points in her MVC debut mark the second highest scoring game by a Bluejay in her first Valley game in school history. The only other Bluejay rookie to score more in an MVC debut was Missy Miller with 23 points on Jan. 7, 1993 in Creighton's first ever MVC game. Freshman Becky Flynn also scored 14 points in that same game in 1993, while Laura Spanheimer scored 14 points against Southern Illinois on Dec. 30, 2001 in her first Valley game. Tritz also tied her career-highs with six rebounds and five steals against Drake.
Home is Where the Wins Are
Creighton is 17-4 (.210) all-time at D.J. Sokol Arena, posting a 12-3 home record last year. The Bluejays are now 89-29 (.754) at home under Jim Flanery (since 2002-03), including 57-16 (.781) in MVC play at home under Flanery. Creighton has won 28 of its last 34 home games, with two of those six losses coming at Qwest Center Omaha.
Defense at D.J.
With a 5-1 mark in their home arena this year, the Bluejays are 17-4 all-time at D.J. Sokol Arena. In those 21 games, the Bluejays have allowed 55 of fewer points nine times – including three times this year. Bluejay opponents are averaging just 56.4 points per game in the 21 games played inside D.J. Sokol Arena, while the Jays are averaging 66 points per game in their new home venue.
Strength of Schedule is Tops in MVC
As it annually does, Creighton again played the strongest non-conference schedule in the MVC. Through non-conference games played on Dec. 28, the Bluejays' strength of schedule (SOS) was 39. Only one other school in the MVC had an SOS of better than 131 – Missouri State's 88. In fact, the other nine teams in the MVC had an average SOS of 182 – 143 spots lower than Creighton's.
At the Half
The Bluejays are 6-0 when leading at halftime this year and have now won 10 straight games when leading at the half. Creighton has trailed at halftime in seven of its first 14 games this year, but has come-from-behind to win three of those seven games – already equalling the number of wins it had when trailing at halftime last year (3-8).
Tracking Six Three-Pointers Made
Through 14 games, Creighton ranks third in the MVC making 6.5 three-pointers per game. The Bluejays have made at least six three pointers in half of their games, far off of their pace over the previous two seasons. The Bluejays are 5-2 this year when failing to make six three-pointers in a game, but are just 35-53 (.398) under Jim Flanery when not making six treys. Compare that mark to the 126-55 (.696) record CU has compiled in games it has drained at least three trifectas since the 2002-03 season. The Jays made at least six threes in 23 games last year, compared to just nine games with less than six. In 2008-09, the Jays had 24 games with at least six triples, and only 10 games without. In only one of Flanery's first eight seasons at the helm have the Bluejays not had more games with at least six three-pointers – the 2006-07 season featured 16 games with at least six threes and 16 games with less than six threes.
Under Flanery With & Without Six 3FG
W/6 3FG W/O 6 3FG
Season W-L W-L
2010-11 4-3 5-2
2009-10 18-5 3-6
2008-09 18-6 4-6
2007-08 14-5 7-7
2006-07 10-6 3-13
2005-06 7-13 1-8
2004-05 14-3 5-7
2003-04 19-8 5-1
2002-03 22-6 2-3
Totals 126-55 35-53
Schuett Doubles Up the MVC
Sam Schuett recorded her first double-double of the season with 18 points and 11 rebounds against Drake (Dec. 31). It was the 14th double-double of her career. Of her 14 double-dimes, 12 have come against MVC teams – 10 in the MVC regular-season and two in the MVC Tournament. Her only two non-conference double-doubles came at UC Davis (Nov. 27, 2009) and Nebraska (Nov. 30, 2007).
December to Remember
Creighton posted a 4-3 record in December for its first winning month of December since going 3-1 in 2007. The Bluejays are now 31-25 all-time in December under Jim Flanery. The Jays have now posted four winning Decembers under Flanery – 2002 (6-1), 2004 (5-1) and 2007 (3-1) and 2010 (4-3).
Longest Home Stand Since 1999
Creighton went 3-1 in its longest home stand since 1999, winning all three of its games at D.J. Sokol Arena. Its lone loss came in just its second home game ever played at Qwest Center Omaha. The four game home stand was the first of two four game home stands for the Jays this year, after not playing one four-game stand over the past 11 seasons. The Jays had not played four straight at home since Jan. 21-31, 1999. The Jays play a four-game conference home stand between Jan. 27 and Feb. 5, the longest MVC home stand since that same 1999 stretch.
Tritz Takes
Carli Tritz leads the team and ranks second in the MVC with 39 steals, while her 11 rebounds through three MVC games is tied for the league-lead. She has grabbed at least two steals in all but one game this year, leading the team in steals in 10 of her first 14 games. She topped the team with five steals against Marquette (Nov. 28) and Drake (Dec. 31), becoming the first Bluejay freshman to record five steals in a game since Megan Neuvirth had five in the 2007 MVC Tournament championship game against Drake.
Woodard Named MVC Player of the Week
Kelsey Woodard was named the MVC Player of the Week on Dec. 27 after her performances against North Dakota and Kansas. Woodard averaged 20 points and 3.0 assists per game, making 50 percent of her field goals (14-28) and three-pointers (5-10) in the two contests. It was her second career Player of the Week honor, and first since Feb. 4, 2008.
Bluejays Establish Highs
Creighton enjoyed its highest scoring game in more than seven years on Dec. 20, cruising to a 96-57 win over North Dakota. The 96 points were the most scored by the Jays since winning 96-86 at Siena on March 22, 2003. In addition to the season-high point total, the Jays also put up season-highs in field goals (33), field-goal percentage (.611), three-pointers (12), assists (24), steals (12), blocked shots (9) and points in the paint (40). CU's 96 points, 33 field goals and 55 points in a half (2nd) all established D.J. Sokol Arena records as well.
Individual Highs
In addition to the multiple team season-best numbers against North Dakota (Dec. 20), several individuals also set career highs in the win. McKenzie Fujan scored a career-best nine points, making 4-of-6 shots. Jasmin Corbin led the team with a career-high five assists. DaNae Moore led the Jays with a career-best three steals.
Flan Schedules the Big Boys (or Girls)
With Creighton's win over Marquette on Nov. 28, head coach Jim Flanery now has twice as many wins against BCS schools than the next closest MVC school since his first campaign in 2002-03. Flanery's 18 wins against BCS schools in that span are twice as many as Drake (9). In fact, Flan has more wins against BCS schools in that span than Bradley has games played (16) against BCS schools. His 18 wins also equal the number of games played by Evansville, Indiana State and Wichita State against BCS schools in that same span. Creighton's game against Kansas (Dec. 22) was its 60th against a BCS program since 2002-03, the next closest MVC school is Drake, which has played 38 games against BCS schools in the same span.
MVC vs. BCS since 2002-03
School Games Wins
Creighton 60 18
Drake 38 9
Illinois State 26 8
Missouri State 29 7
Indiana State 18 6
Northern Iowa 34 4
Wichita State 18 4
Evansville 18 3
Bradley 16 2
Southern Illinois 21 0
Turnovers Trending Down
After opening the season with 28 turnovers against Liberty (the most by CU since it had 29 in the final game of the 2007-08 season), the Bluejays have learned how to take care of the ball. The Jays are now averaging 14.6 turnovers per game to rank 20th in the NCAA in fewest turnovers per game. The Jays committed a season-low six turnovers at South Dakota (Dec. 2), tied for the fewest committed by the Jays under head coach Jim Flanery.
Scoring in the 90s
Creighton's 96 points in its win over North Dakota (Dec. 20) were the most points scored by the Bluejays in a game since a 96-86 win at Siena on March 22, 2003 in the WNIT. It was the first time the Jays had scored 90 points since a 92-63 win over Missouri State on Jan. 8, 2009. The Jays improved to 8-0 when scoring at least 90 points under Jim Flanery.
Jays Ranked No. 10 in Mid-Major Top-25
Creighton is ranked No. 10 in the most recent CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll, its highest ranking in the poll this season. The Jays were ranked No. 20 in the preseason, moved to 18th during the first two weeks of the regular-season, 16th in the third week, 14th in the fourth week, 15th in week five, 14th in week six, 16th in week seven, 13th in week eight and now 10th. 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. Bowling Green was also receiving votes in the AP Top 25 and the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 to start the season.
Schuett's Milestones
Sam Schuett joined some elite groups of players during Creighton's game with Nebraska (Dec. 8), becoming the 23rd player in school history to surpass 1,000 career points and the seventh player to reach 700 career rebounds. She is the sixth CU player to have both 1,000 points and 700 rebounds in a career.
Tritz or Treat
Freshman Carli Tritz scored a game-high 21 points against Nebraska (Dec. 8) to become the first Bluejay rookie with a 20-point game since Kelsey Woodard scored 29 against South Dakota State on March 20, 2008. Tritz scored at least 10 points in four straight games (Nov. 20 - Dec. 8), the longest streak by a CU freshman since Sam Schuett scored 10+ points in five straight in 2007. The guard made 4-of-6 three-pointers against NU after entering the game 1-of-5 from long range through her first six contests.
Home Winning Streak Snapped
Creighton's loss to Nebraska (Dec. 8) snapped its nine-game home winning streak – the Bluejays' longest since winning 23 straight at home between the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons. The Bluejays have still won 28 of their last 34 home games dating back to 2008-09.
Bench Impressed
Creighton's bench out-scored the opponent's bench in 10 of its first 11 non-conference games and before its game at No. 18 Notre Dame (Dec. 11), the bench had out-scored the opponent's bench in each of its first seven games. The Irish reserves out-scored CU's bench 34-11. Before that game, the CU bench had out-scored opponents 170-84, highlighted by a 22-0 edge against Marquette (Nov. 28). The Bluejay bench is averaging 21.6 points per game, while the opposition's bench is averaging 15.1 points per contest.
Woodard's Shooting in South Dakota
Kelsey Woodard scored 24 points at South Dakota on Dec. 2, her highest scoring game since putting up 27 against Indiana State on Jan. 3, 2009. It was the ninth time in her career she has scored 20 points in a game and was the fourth-highest scoring game of her career. Her career-high of 29 points also came in the state of South Dakota, when she led the Jays to a WNIT win at South Dakota State as a freshman. She is 18-for-24 (.750) from the field and 6-of-8 (.750) from three-point range in two games played in South Dakota.
Schuett's Assists are Up
Sam Schuett leads the team with 39 assists this year. She dished a career-high eight assists in a 63-61 win over Marquette (Nov. 28) and followed with six assists at South Dakota (Dec. 2). The eight assists were the most by a Bluejay since Ally Thrall's nine on March 20, 2008. The eight helpers also established a D.J. Sokol Arena record.
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 as many games where they have led wire to wire (4) as they have lost (4) at their new home.
Woodard's Numbers
Kelsey Woodard 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.
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.
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 led the team in rebounding in three of CU's five games and earned her first career start against North Dakota State on Dec. 18.
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.
Kelsey Can Shoot
Kelsey Woodard is one of 23 players in school history with 1,000 career points. Woodard is the second-most accurate free-throw shooter in school history (.854), trailing only her sister Kristi (.862) in that category. She is ranked fourth in school history and 12th in league history with 224 career three-pointers.
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.
Creighton's Sister Act
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.
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 are against teams which appeared in the postseason last year, including a pair of NCAA Sweet 16 teams. CU hosted 2010 Sweet 16 participant Nebraska on Dec. 8 and then played at Sweet 16 team Notre Dame on Dec. 11. Liberty, Bowling Green and NC State all played in the NCAA Tournament last year. Wyoming, Marquette and Kansas played in the WNIT last year.
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.
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 assistant coach Carrie Moore's blog “Tuesdays With Moore” each Tuesday on www.gocreighton.com.
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/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballCreighton Women's Basketball Highlights vs. Kansas State, 12/14/25
Sunday, December 14
Creighton WBB vs Kansas State Postgame Press Conference 12-14-25
Sunday, December 14
Creighton Men's Basketball vs. Kansas State Press Conference - 12/13/25
Sunday, December 14
Creighton vs. Kentucky Volleyball Press Conference - 12/13/25
Sunday, December 14
