Women's Basketball Hosts NC State Sunday

NC State Wolfpack at Creighton Bluejays
Game #5 • Sunday, Nov. 27 • 2:05 pm
Ryan Athletic Center & D.J. Sokol Arena (2,500) • Omaha, Neb.
Series History: NC State leads 1-0
Twitter: @GoCreighton, @CreightonWBB
Audio (1180 AM) | Video | Live Stats

• Creighton is shooting 46.7 percent from the field and 85.7 percent from the free throw line in its two wins this year, while it is shooting 32.3 percent from the floor and 55.6 percent at the line in its two losses.

• Creighton has played 62 games against teams from BCS conferences under head coach Jim Flanery (since 2002-03). No other MVC school has played more than 40 such games in that span.

• Creighton is 11-13 at home under Jim Flanery against teams from BCS conferences, including a 63-61 win over Marquette last year.

• CU is 24-6 (.800) all-time at D.J. Sokol Arena, including 9-3 (.750) against non-conference opponents.

• In Creighton's last 15 games at D.J. Sokol Arena, CU's opponent has failed to score 60 points 12 times.

• Carli Tritz scored her 400th career point on Tuesday, becoming the fastest Bluejay to reach 400 points since Becky Flynn in 1993.

• Sophomore Sarah Nelson grabbed a career-high and arena-record 17 rebounds against South Dakota on Tuesday, the most boards by a Bluejay since 2003.

• Nelson also had a double-double against South Dakota, her second in four games this season. He only double-double last year came at North Carolina State, when she led the team with 14 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.

• Creighton's loss to South Dakota was its first November loss, Tuesday loss and overtime loss in D.J. Sokol Arena history.

• Five Bluejays scored in double figures in CU's 84-71 loss at NC State last November, including Sarah Nelson (14) and Carli Tritz (10).

Scouting the Bluejays (2-2)
The Bluejays are picked to finish fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference this season ... Creighton returns eight letterwinners and four players with starting experience from last year's team which finished 18-13 and 12-6 (T-2nd) in the MVC ... CU lost three senior starters from last year's team ... The Jays advanced to the WNIT for the fourth straight season last year, tying a school record for consecutive postseason appearances ... Nine of CU's 12 roster spots are filled by underclassmen ... Carli Tritz, the 2011 MVC Freshman of the Year, led the team in assists (98), steals (67) and field goal percentage (.478) last year and is already CU's active career leader in leader in points, steals, assists, free throws and free-throw attempts ... Tritz is averaging 18.0 points in her last two games ... Sarah Nelson leads the team with 12.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game ... Nelson, the MVC Player of the Week after the first week of play this season, joined Tritz on the MVC All-Freshman team last year ... Ally Jensen leads CU with 3.5 assists per game and nine 3FG this year ... CU's roster includes three freshmen, including Bellevue (Neb.) West graduate Alexis Akin-Otiko, who is averaging 8.3 points and 4.8 rebounds in her first four college games.

Scouting the Wolfpack (3-0)*
NC State opened the year with three wins before hosting Jacksonville on Wednesday night ... The Wolfpack return four starters from last year's 14-17 team, which finished 10th in the ACC with a 4-10 mark ... NC State was averaging 78 points and 51.7 rebounds per game with a plus-16.7 rebounding advantage through three games ... Five Wolfpack players were averaging double figures through three games, led by Bonae Holston's 13.5 points and 9.5 rebounds ... Holtson led NCST with 16.3 ppg, 8.4 rpg and 50.4 FG% last year ... Lincoln, Neb., native Marissa Kastanek averaged 13.6 ppg and led NCST with 57 3-pointers last year.

The Coaches
• Jim Flanery (Creighton, 1987) is in his 10th season as head coach at his alma mater, where he has led his team to seven WNIT postseason appearances and five 20-win seasons. He owns a career record of 172-118 (.593). One of seven coaches in MVC history with 100 league wins, he led the Bluejays to the 2004 WNIT Championship. He is the second-winningest coach in school history. Prior to serving as CU's head coach, Flanery served as CU's top assistant for a decade.
• Kellie Harper (Tennessee, 1999) is in her third season at North Carolina State and eighth as a collegiate head coach with an overall mark of 134-96 (.583) and a 37-31 (.544) record at NC State. She guided the Wolfpack to 20 wins and the NCAA Tournament in her first season after leading Western Carolina for five years.

Creighton-NC State Series History
North Carolina State defeated Creighton 84-71 in the only meeting between the teams in the championship game of the Sheraton Raleigh Wolfpack Invitational on Nov. 13, 2010. NC State used a 14-0 run midway through the second half to pull away after the Jays cut the Wolfpack lead to 53-51. The Bluejays shot 46 percent and outrebounded NCST 39-36, but NCST shot 51.6 percent from the field and forced 19 Bluejay turnovers. Five Bluejays scored in double figures, led by Sarah Nelson's first career double-double, 14 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. Carli Tritz added 10 points for CU. Amber White led NC State with 29 points, while Lincoln, Neb., native Marissa Kastanek added 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting, scoring 14 points in the second half.

Cleaning the Glass
Sarah Nelson had the best rebounding game by a Bluejay since 2003 on Tuesday night when she pulled down 17 rebounds against South Dakota. The 17 boards were not only a career-high, but they were also a D.J. Sokol Arena record. The 17 caroms were the most by a Bluejay since two-time MVC Player of the Year Christy Neneman snagged 17 rebounds against Indiana State on Feb. 27, 2003. The 17 rebounds are tied for the 10th-most in a single game in school history.

Doubling Her Double-Doubles
Sarah Nelson added 11 points to her career-high 17 rebounds against South Dakota last Tuesday, giving her two double-doubles in her first four games this season. She also had 12 points and 10 rebounds at North Dakota State earlier this month. She only had one double-double in 31 games as a freshman, with 14 points and 10 rebounds at North Carolina State.

Flan Schedules the Big Boys (or Girls)
Creighton's game against NC State is its second of five games against teams from BCS conferences this season, continuing a trend head coach Jim Flanery started when he took over in 2002-03. The Bluejays have played 62 games against BCS schools in that span, 23 more than the next closest MVC school – Drake (39). Flanery's 18 wins against BCS schools in that span are eight more than the next closest MVC school in that span – Illinois State (10). In fact, Flan has more wins against BCS conference (ACC, Big East, Big 10, Big 12, Pac 12, SEC) schools since he took over than Bradley has games played (16) against BCS schools.

MVC vs. BCS since 2002-03
School    Games    Wins
Creighton    62    18
Illinois State    30    10
Drake    39    9
Missouri State    32    7
Indiana State    19    6
Northern Iowa    36    4
Wichita State    21    4
Evansville    19    3
Bradley    16    2
Southern Illinois    21    0

Streaky Shooting
Since opening the season by shooting 46.7 in its first two games – both wins – for its best shooting start since 1994, the Bluejays have dipped to a 32.3 combined shooting percentage in their last two games – both losses. CU made 56-of-120 field goals in its first two games this year, but has made just 43-of-133 from the floor in its last two games. CU opened the year shooting 49.1 percent in its 72-54 win at North Dakota and followed by shooting 44.4 percent in its 71-51 win at North Dakota State. The combined field goal percentage of 46.7 percent through two games was the best shooting percentage to start a season in head coach Jim Flanery's 10 seasons and the best two-game start to the season from the field since the 1994-95 team shot 48.5 percent.

Nelson in Double Figures
Sophomore Sarah Nelson has scored in double figures in each of her first four games this season, the longest streak of her career. Last year she scored at least 10 points in 10 games, but never put together more than two straight games in double figures. The forward also leads the team with 10 steals in four games, after she grabbed 16 steals in 31 games last year.

Tritz Reaches 400 Points Rapidly
With 13 points against South Dakota on Tuesday, sophomore Carli Tritz eclipsed 400 career points in just her 35th career game. She becomes the fastest Bluejay to reach 400 points since Becky Flynn scored her 400th career point in her first game as a sophomore in 1993. Flynn reached 400 points in her 29th career game. If you're curious about other recent Bluejays to get quickly reach 400 – Christy Neneman (37), Kelsey Woodard (38) and Laura Spanheimer (39) – were all edged out by Tritz.

Home is Where the Wins Are
Creighton went 12-2 at D.J. Sokol Arena last year, and is now improving to 24-6 (.800) at its new home. The Bluejays are 96-31 (.756) at home under Jim Flanery, including 64-17 (.790) in MVC play at home under Flanery.

Defense at D.J.
With an 12-2 mark at D.J. Sokol Arena, the Bluejays are now 24-6 all-time their new home. In those 30 games, the Bluejays have allowed less than 60 points points 22 times – including 12 of its last 15 games. Bluejay opponents are averaging just 55.3 points per game in the 30 games played inside D.J. Sokol Arena.

Tritz Scores Career-High 23 at Kansas
Sophomore Carli Tritz poured in a career-high 23 points at Kansas on Nov. 16, also setting career-high marks by going 9-for-18 from the field. Her previous career best of 21 points also came against a Big 12 school, scoring 21 against Nebraska at home last year. The super sophomore is averaging 18 points per game in her last two outings.

Accuracy from Ally
Junior Ally Jensen is shooting 40.9 percent from three point range this year, making 9-of-22 three-pointers through four games. She scored in double figures in CU's first two games this season, after scoring in double figures four times in 31 games last year. Her 16 points against North Dakota State (Nov. 13) were the most she'd scored since her career-high 18 points against Drake as a freshman in the MVC Tournament.

Nelson Earns MVC Honors
Sarah Nelson opened her sophomore season in style by earning MVC Player of the Week honors on Nov. 14. The forward tied her career-high with 17 points, making 7-of-8 field goals in CU's opener at North Dakota and followed with her second career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds at North Dakota State. She also shot 12-of-16 (.750) from the field in her first two games.

Flan's Movement
Creighton opened the season with a 72-54 win at North Dakota, earning head coach Jim Flanery his 171st career victory. That win moved him ahead of his predecessor Connie Yori (170) alone into second place on the CU career victories chart. He now trails only Bruce Rasmussen's (currently Creighton's AD) 196 wins for tops in school history.

Creighton Coaching Wins
Name    Wins    Seasons
Bruce Rasmussen    196    12
Jim Flanery    172    10
Connie Yori    170    10
Gaye Kinnett    33    3
Eddye McClure    26    3
Howard Faber    11    1

Garrison Outscores Garrison
Jordan Garrison has already scored more points this year than she did all of last year when she missed nearly half the season because of a stress fracture in her left leg. Garrison was unable to play in any regular-season non-conference games last year, but has performed well in her first four games this year. The sophomore was 4-for-20 from three-point range last year and scored 15 points in 16 games played last year. Through four games this year, the guard is now 5-for-15 from long range and has 17 points this season.

Freshmen Firsts
Freshmen Taylor Johnson and Alexis Akin-Otiko each picked a historic building to make their first career three-pointer, when the duo did so at Kansas' Allen Fieldhouse on Nov. 16. Akin-Otiko drained the first three-point attempt of her career against KU, while Johnson had missed her first eight career attempts before knocking down a three at Kansas.

Not So Rocky Road
The Bluejays won their first two road games of the season for the first time since 1995. Creighton opened the season with consecutive road wins in its first two games for the first time in school history. Prior to its 72-54 win at North Dakota to open the year, Creighton had not won its first road game of the season since 1999 and had not won a season-opener on the road since 1998.

Impact Freshman
Freshman Alexis Akin-Otiko had a pair of impressive performances in her first two college games. The rookie had seven points and a team-best five rebounds in just 13 minutes of play in her collegiate debut at North Dakota (Nov. 11). She was 7-of-9 from the floor for 16 points in 16 minutes of action at North Dakota State (Nov. 13), tying for game-high scoring honors. She went 5-for-5 from the free-throw line and averaged 11.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in her first two games.

Bluejays Blowout Bison
Creighton blasted North Dakota State 71-51 on Nov. 13, the Bluejays' first 20-point non-conference road win since a 78-56 win at Colorado State on Nov. 24, 2007. It marked just the third non-conference road win of at least 20 points under head coach Jim Flanery, with the first coming on Dec. 20, 2002 – 80-57 at UC Irvine.

Exhibition Recap
Creighton cruised to an 83-26 win over Rockhurst in its only exhibition of the season on Nov. 2. The Bluejays forced 34 turnovers and had 18 steals in the game, with four steals each from sophomore Alyssa Kamphaus and freshman Alexis Akin-Otiko. Four Bluejays scored in double figures, led by Ally Jensen's 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting from long range. McKenzie Fujan, Jordan Garrison and Kamphaus each added 10 points. Akin-Otiko also led the team with six rebounds, as CU outrebounded RU 45-32. The Bluejays shot 46.9 percent from the field and 43.5 percent (10-23) from three-point range, but just 50 percent (13-26) at the free-throw line. Sarah Nelson blocked six shots and added nine points in the win. Fujan, Nelson and freshman Taylor Johnson tied for team-high honors with four assists.

Preseason Picks
The Bluejays have been picked to finish fourth in the MVC preseason poll as voted on by league coaches, media and sports information directors. Sophomore Carli Tritz was named to the five-member preseason all-MVC team after her outstanding freshman campaign. Missouri State captured 36 first-place votes and are the preseason favorites, while UNI received the remaining four votes and is picked to finish second. Wichita State is the only other team picked above Creighton this year.

On Top of the Valley
Creighton has won more MVC games in the last nine years than any other program in the league. With 105 victories since the 2002-03 season, the Bluejays are the only Valley team to eclipse 100 conference wins in that span. All 105 wins have come since Jim Flanery took over, making him just the seventh coach in league history to win 100 MVC games.

We're Still Young
One season after half of the roster was made up of freshmen, the 2011-12 roster consists of 12 players, nine of which are underclassmen. The Bluejays have one senior (DaNae Moore), two juniors, five sophomores, three true freshmen and one redshirt freshman on the roster.

Creighton's Sister Act Continues
One of the three freshmen on this year's team is Sammy Jensen, the younger sister of junior Ally Jensen, continuing the recent trend of sisters playing for the Bluejays. Last year, Kellie and Sarah Nelson played alongside each other. Before the Nelson's played together, the last recorded sister duo to play on the same Bluejay basketball squad was Peggy and Patty Bierle during the 1978-79 season. Kelsey Woodard (2007-11) followed older sister Kristi (2002-06) and Laura Spanheimer (2001-05) followed in the steps of her older sister Krissie (1997-01) to solidify this basketball program as true family environment.

Tritz is Talented
Carli Tritz was named the MVC Freshman of the Year in 2010-11, after she led the team in assists (98), steals (67) and field-goal percentage (.478). Tritz, who was also named honorable-mention all-MVC, set an MVC record by earning MVC Newcomer of the Week honors nine times (in 17 weeks) last year. The guard led all MVC freshmen and newcomers in scoring (11.4 ppg), assist-turnover ratio (1.0) and field-goal percentage, while she led all league freshmen in steals.

Super Sophs
Sarah Nelson joined Carli Tritz on the MVC All-Freshman Team in 2010-11. Nelson led the team with 29 blocked shots and ranked second with 137 rebounds. The forward was named the MVC Newcomer of the Week twice last year to give Creighton 11 of the 17 Newcomer of the Week honors last year. Tritz is already CU's active leader in scoring (403), free-throws (78), free-throw attempts (114), steals (69) and assists (109).

It's Lonely at the Top
Forward DaNae Moore is the lone senior on this year's team. The senior started 34 of the 96 games she has played in during her first three years, averaging 13 minutes per game. The forward from Apple Valley, Minn., has more rebounds (256) than points scored (186) – averaging less than two points per game – in her career.

Jensen Takes Aim at 100
With eight three-pointers in her first three games, junior Ally Jensen is quickly closing in on 100 career trifectas in her career. She now has 88 career three-pointers, 12 shy of becoming the 16th player in school history to reach 100 career threes.

Creighton Career 3-Point Field Goals
    1.    309    Kathy Halligan    1988-92
    2.    294    Dayna Finch    2000-04
    3.    261    Kelsey Woodard    2007-11
    4.    250    Laura Spanheimer    2001-05
    5.    187    Missy Miller    1992-96
    6.    174    Holly Sivesind    1993-97
    7.    169    Sam Schuett    2006-11
    8.    154    Ally Thrall    2004-08
    9.    151    Melissa Sanford    1989-92
    10.    137    Krissie Spanheimer    1997-01
    11.    134    Chevelle Herring    2005-10
        134    Angela Timmons    1997-01
    13.    132    Kristi Woodard    2002-06
    14.    102    Christy Neneman    2000-04
    15.    101    Michelle Kaus    2005-09

Nebraska Natives
Five of Creighton's 12 players on this year's roster are from Nebraska – Omaha products Jasmin Corbin (Millard West) and Sarah Nelson (Westside), Seward High graduate Alyssa Kamphaus, Wahoo Bishop Neumann product McKenzie Fujan and Alexis Akin-Otiko out of Bellevue West.

The Bellevue Bloodline
Freshman Alexis Akin-Otiko continues a trend at Creighton which began in 2002-03. Akin-Otiko attended Bellevue West, following in the footsteps of former Bluejays and fellow Bellevue West Thunderbirds Kristi and Kelsey Woodard. Kristi played for the Jays from 2002-06 and Kelsey played from 2007-11, meaning one T-Bird has been on the roster every year since 2002-03 – with the exception of 2006-07. CU has had at least one player from Bellevue on the roster every season for the last decade, as Chevelle Herring, a Bellevue East product, played from 2005-10.

Another Tough Schedule
As always, Creighton plays one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the MVC, one that features the 2011 NCAA National Runner-Up coming to Omaha. Creighton hosts North Carolina State on Nov. 27, the first ACC team to play against the Jays in Omaha. On Dec. 4, the Bluejays host Notre Dame for the first time in program history. The Fighting Irish, who lost to Texas A&M in the 2011 NCAA Title game, will be the fourth team in a decade to come to Omaha the year after it played in the Final Four – Missouri State (2002), Minnesota (2004), Oklahoma (2009). Seven-time reigning Mid-American Conference champion Bowling Green plays at D.J. Sokol Arena on Dec. 18.

Playing the Percentages
Creighton lost three of its top five scorers from last year's team and returns 52.4 percent of its scoring from a year ago. The Jays return 58.3 percent of their rebounds and 56.4 percent of their assists from last year. Perhaps the most noticable statistical loss might be that the three 2011 seniors – Kellie Nelson, Sam Schuett, Kelsey Woodard – accounted for 2,669 of Creighton's 6,225 minutes played last year. So between the three graduated seniors, they played 42.9 percent of CU's minutes last year.

Flan Makes History With 100th MVC Win
Head coach Jim Flanery won his 100th career MVC game against Wichita State on Jan. 29, 2011, becoming the seventh coach in league history to reach that milestone.
Most MVC Coaching Wins (league games)
Name, School    Wins    Years
Cheryl Burnett, MSU    201    1988-02
Cindy Scott, SIU    199    1983-98
Jill Hutchison, ILS    170    1983-99
Tony DiCecco, UNI    117    1996-07
Lisa Bluder, DU    116    1991-00
Connie Yori, CU    109    1992-02
Jim Flanery, CU    105    2002-pr.

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 MVC wins than any other program in that span.
MVC Records Since 2002-03
School    W-L    Pct.
Creighton    105-57    .648
Northern Iowa    99-63    .611
Indiana State    97-65    .599
Illinois State    97-65    .599
Missouri State    91-71    .562
Drake    89-73    .549
Bradley    72-90    .444
Evansville    64-98    .395
Wichita State    54-108    .333
Southern Illinois    42-120    .259

Bluejays Receive Two NLIs
Creighton received two National Letters of Intent on signing day this fall, inking Brianna Rollerson [6-1, F, Omaha, Neb. (Central)] and Marrisa Janning [5-8, G, Delano, Minn. (Watertown-Mayer)] to its class 2012-13 freshman class. Janning is the highest rated recruit of any MVC team as ranked by Blue Star Basketball. Janning ranked 193 and Rollerson ranked 218 nationally by the recruiting service.

Players Mentioned

Alexis Akin-Otiko

Jasmin Corbin

McKenzie Fujan

Jordan Garrison

Ally Jensen

Sammy Jensen

Taylor Johnson

Alyssa Kamphaus

DaNae Moore

Kellie Nelson

Sarah Nelson

Sam Schuett

Carli Tritz

Kelsey Woodard

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