Bluejays Look to Bounce Back Against Braves in Women's Basketball
1/14/2011 2:40:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Game 16 vs. Bradley • Saturday, Jan. 15 • 2:05 p.m.
Bradley Braves at Creighton Bluejays
Ryan Athletic Center & D.J. Sokol Arena • Omaha, Neb.
Links: Audio (1180 AM) | Video | Live Stats
Series History: Creighton leads 32-8
Last Meeting: Bradley won 72-62, Feb. 19, 2010 in Peoria
Bradley Braves at Creighton Bluejays
Ryan Athletic Center & D.J. Sokol Arena • Omaha, Neb.
Links: Audio (1180 AM) | Video | Live Stats
Series History: Creighton leads 32-8
Last Meeting: Bradley won 72-62, Feb. 19, 2010 in Peoria
• 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 is 5-3 at home this year. Following its third home loss last year, CU won its final seven home games.
• The Bluejays lead the MVC, shooting 42.9 percent from the field in conference games, while their 53.8 points allowed per MVC game is also tops in the league.
• Creighton's three three-pointers and 15.8 shooting percentage from three-point range against UNI on Thursday were season-lows.
• Five-time MVC Newcomer of the Week Carli Tritz had career-highs with 10 rebounds and seven assists against UNI on Thursday.
• Sam Schuett logged her second double-double of the season with 14 points and 12 rebounds against UNI Thursday. Of her 15 career double-doubles, 13 have come against MVC teams.
• Schuett averages 10 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in her career against Bradley.
• Creighton is 4-5 in its last nine meetings with Bradley after starting the series 28-3 through the first 31 meetings.
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 33.7 boards per game, but ranks last in field goal percent defense (.427) ... Senior Kelsey Woodard, who ranks 13th in MVC history with 224 career three-pointers, leads the team with 13.1 points per game, 31 3FG and 90 free throw percentage. Woodard's 14-5 assist-turnover ratio in league games is tops in the MVC ... Five-time MVC Newcomer of the Week, freshman Carli Tritz (10 ppg) leads the team and ranks second in the MVC with 42 steals, including an MVC-best 14 in league play ... First-team all-MVC forward, senior Sam Schuett (10.5 ppg) leads the team with 7.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game ... Senior Kellie Nelson leads the team in field goal percentage (.500) and blocked shots (13).
Scouting the Braves
Bradley is 1-5 in its last six games after a 7-3 start to the season ... BU lost 68-64 at Drake on Thursday, but out-scored the Bulldogs 42-28 in the second half ... Bradley is averaging 65.4 points and allowing a league-worst 69.4 points per game. The Braves average 40.9 rebounds per game and rank second in the MVC with a plus-5.6 rebounding margin ... BU ranks last in the MVC, averaging 22.9 turnovers per game and ranks ninth in the league with a minus-7.0 turnover margin ... Katie Yohn leads the team with 13.9 points per game (15.0 ppg MVC) and 34 three-pointers ... Raisa Taylor adds 12.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and a team-best 3.6 assists per game ... Latasha Hollingshed tops the team with 8.1 rebounds per game to compliment her 8.8 points per game ... MacKenzie Westcott leads the team with 25 steals and 18 blocked shots.
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 161-109 (.596), 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 11-5 against UNI in his career. Bradley is coached by former UNO head coach Paula Buscher (Missouri State, 1986). Buscher, the dean of MVC coaches and the 2009 MVC Coach of the Year is 142-164 (.464) in her 11th season with the Braves, while she is 185-202 (.478) in her 14th year as a collegiate head coach.
CU-BU Series History
Creighton has dominated the all-time series with Bradley, as the Bluejays own a 32-8 lead. The Bluejays are 15-4 all-time against BU in Omaha, but just 2-2 in the last four Omaha match-ups. CU is 4-5 in the last nine meetings with Bradley after an 18-game CU winning streak in the series and after losing just three times in the first 31 all-time meetings. The Braves swept the season series from Creighton for the first time last year and have won the last three meetings with the Jays for the first time in the series history. Bradley, which won in Omaha last year, has never captured wins on CU's home court in consecutive seasons.
Last Year Against Bradley
The Bluejays lost 63-57 to Bradley in their worst shooting game of the season at home last January and then fell 72-62 at Peoria in February to give BU its first ever sweep of the Jays. CU shot a season-low 22.7 percent from the field in their home loss, making just 10 field goals – the fewest field goals in a game during Jim Flanery's nine-year tenure. The Jays were 3-of-23 (.13) from long range in that loss, while their season-high 34-of-48 free-throws kept them in the game. CU led 33-30 at halftime at Bradley, but a 16-2 run that including 12 straight points helped BU overcome a seven-point deficit for the win.
Individuals Against Bradley
Sam Schuett averages 10.0 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in her career against Bradley, shooting just 21.4 percent (6-28) from three-point range, but 88 percent (22-25) at the free throw line. Kelsey Woodard averages 9.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, shooting only 9-of-31 (.290) from three-point range against BU in her career. Kellie Nelson is averaging 6.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game against the Braves in her career. Ally Jensen was 2-for-10 on 3FG vs. BU last year.
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. 15
School W-L Pct.
Creighton 96-52 .649
Indiana State 91-57 .615
Illinois State 87-61 .592
Northern Iowa 86-63 .578
Drake 83-65 .561
Missouri State 83-66 .557
Bradley 66-83 .443
Evansville 62-86 .419
Wichita State 45-104 .302
Southern Illinois 42-106 .284
No Bad Losses
Through 22 games at its new facility, Creighton has lost just five times. The combined record of those five teams entering the game in which they topped Creighton is 41-20 (.672). Bradley is looking to become the first opponent to capture two wins at D.J. Sokol Arena.
5-3 Home Start
Creighton is 5-3 at home this year, the second straight season it has started with that mark at home. Last year the Bluejays did not lose another home game following their third home loss, winning their final seven home games to finish 12-3 at home.
Schuett Doubles Up the MVC
Sam Schuett recorded notched her second double-double of the year against UNI (Jan. 13), with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Both double-doubles have come in the first four MVC games. She now has 15 career double-doubles, 13 of which have come against MVC teams – 11 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).
Woodard Climbing the Charts
Senior Kelsey Woodard moved from 16th to 12th on the Creighton scoring charts last week, as she now has 1,277 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 79 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.
Home is Where the Wins Are
Creighton is 17-5 (.773) all-time at D.J. Sokol Arena, posting a 12-3 home record last year. The Bluejays are now 89-30 (.748) at home under Jim Flanery (since 2002-03), including 57-17 (.770) in MVC play at home under Flanery. Creighton has won 28 of its last 35 home games, with two of those seven losses coming at Qwest Center Omaha.
Defense at D.J.
With a 5-2 mark in their home arena this year, the Bluejays are 17-5 all-time at D.J. Sokol Arena. In those 22 games, the Bluejays have allowed 55 of fewer points nine times – including three times this year. Bluejay opponents are averaging just 56.5 points per game in the 22 games played inside D.J. Sokol Arena, while the Jays are averaging 65.6 points per game in their new home venue.
Tritz the Starter
Since moving into the staring lineup on Dec. 20, freshman Carli Tritz is averaging 10.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game. She is shooting 53.3 percent from the field as a starter. 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.
League Leaders
Despite shooting just 34.4 percent against UNI on Thursday, Creighton is still leading the MVC, shooting 42.9 percent from the field in conference play. The Bluejays have allowed just 53.8 points per game in Valley play, which is also tops in the league. Kelsey Woodard leads the MVC in assist-turnover ratio in league-only games, with 14 assists and just five turnovers. Carli Tritz is tied for the Valley lead with 14 steals in conference 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.
Schuett's Rise on Rebounding Chart
With 770 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. She is five boards shy of Angie Janis (775) for fourth.
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 grabbed six rebounds and five steals against Drake.
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.
Tracking Six Three-Pointers Made
Through 15 games, Creighton ranks third in the MVC making 6.3 three-pointers per game. The Bluejays have made at least six three pointers in less than half of their games, far off of their pace over the previous two seasons. The Bluejays are 5-3 this year when failing to make six three-pointers in a game, but are just 35-54 (.393) 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 5-3
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 35-54
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 eight of its first 15 games this year, but has come-from-behind to win three of those games – already equalling the number of wins it had when trailing at halftime last year (3-8).
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 42 steals, while her 14 steals in MVC play 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 11 of her first 15 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 14.8 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 Nebraska.
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 20.9 points per game, while the opposition's bench is averaging 14.9 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 41 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 only lost five times at their new home, compared to the four games in which they have never trailed.
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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Wednesday, October 08
Creighton VB vs Marquette Recap video
Tuesday, October 07
