Women's Basketball Returns to the Court Against Bowling Green
12/15/2011 4:09:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Bowling Green Falcons (7-2) at Creighton Bluejays (4-4)
Game #9 • Sunday, Dec. 18 • 1:05 pm
Ryan Athletic Center & D.J Sokol Arena (2,500) • Omaha, Neb.
Series History: Series tied 1-1
Twitter: @GoCreighton, @CreightonWBB
Audio (1180 AM) | Live Stats | Live Video
Game #9 • Sunday, Dec. 18 • 1:05 pm
Ryan Athletic Center & D.J Sokol Arena (2,500) • Omaha, Neb.
Series History: Series tied 1-1
Twitter: @GoCreighton, @CreightonWBB
Audio (1180 AM) | Live Stats | Live Video
• Creighton once again has the strongest strength of schedule in the MVC. The Bluejays' SOS is 49 this week (Missouri State is second at 56), while Bowling Green's SOS is at 295.
• Creighton's four losses have come to teams with a combined 32-5 record.
• Creighton went 9-2 at home in non-conference games during its first two seasons at D.J. Sokol Arena, but is 1-2 at home this year.
• Sophomore Sarah Nelson leads the MVC and ranks sixth in the NCAA in field-goal percentage, shooting 62.9 percent from the field.
• Nelson, who was named MVC Player of the Week twice in the first three weeks of the season, is averaging a double-double at home this year with 13.3 points and 10.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 70.8 percent from the floor in three home games.
• Creighton needs a win against Bowling Green to avoid just its second losing non-conference home record in the last 14 seasons (2-3 in 2006-07).
• Creighton is shooting a combined 10-of-48 (.208) in the first half of its last two games, while is has combined to shoot 27-of-52 (.519) from the field in the second half of those two losses. On the season, the Jays are shooting 43.6 percent from the field in the second half and 35.6 percent in the first half.
• Bowling Green is the first Mid-American Conference Team to play in Omaha since Northern Illinois on Jan. 8, 1990.
• One of Creighton's two NCAA Tournament wins in program history came against Bowling Green, as the Bluejays defeated the Falcons 84-73 at BGSU on March 16, 1994.
Scouting the Bluejays (4-4)
The Bluejays are picked to finish fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference this season ... Creighton returns eight letterwinners and two starters 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 which 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 ...Two-time MVC Player of the Week sophomore Sarah Nelson leads the team with 13.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.0 steals per game and three double-doubles ... Nelson ranks sixth in the NCAA, shooting 62.9 percent from the field ... 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 CU's active career leader in leader in points, steals, assists, free throws and free-throw attempts, but has been slowed through eight games following preseason surgery on her knee ... Ally Jensen (10.1 ppg) leads CU with 3.0 assists per game and 17 three-pointers ... Freshman Taylor Johnson has made 11 three-pointers in CU's last four games.
Scouting the Falcons (7-2)
Bowling Green enters the weekend having won seven straight games following an 0-2 start to the season ... The Falcons went 28-5 last year and won their seventh straight MAC regular-season title, while advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in the last seven years ... BGSU has won at least 20 games in each of the last eight seasons ... The Falcons are forcing 22.1 turnovers per game and rank 20th in the NCAA with a plus-7.1 turnover margin ... Chrissy Steffen is the only returning starter from last year's team, and she is leading BGSU with 14.6 points per game, 19 assists and 12 three-pointers ... Alexis Rogers, a transfer from Duke, leads the team with 6.8 rebounds per game and Danielle Havel tops the team with 23 steals.
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 174-119 (.594). 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. Flan is 1-1 against MAC teams.
• Curt Miller (Baldwin-Wallace, 1990) is in his 11th season as a collegiate head coach, all spent at Bowling Green where he has a 241-87 (.735) record. He has led his team to seven straight MAC regular-season titles, five NCAA Tournament appearances and two WNITs.
Creighton-Bowling Green Series History
Creighton and Bowling Green have split the previous two meetings in school history. The Bluejays won the first meeting at 24th-ranked and seventh-seeded Bowling Green, 84-73, in the 1994 NCAA Tournament. The Falcons topped Creighton 79-53 at BGSU last November in the second meeting. This is Bowling Green's first trip to Omaha.
Last Year at Bowling Green
The Bluejays and Falcons were tied at 30 at halftime, before Bowling Green pulled away for a 79-53 win on Nov. 15 at Anderson Arena. The Falcons used a 31-10 run, which included 16 unanswered points, in the second half to take control of the game which had featured four lead changes and six ties in the first half. The Jays went scoreless for more than nine minutes at one point in the second half. CU shot 54.5 percent in the first half and just 31 percent after the half. Kelsey Woodard led CU with 14 points, while Sarah Nelson came off the bench to provide 10 points and team-high seven rebounds. Lauren Prochaska led BGSU with 21 points and Tracy Pontius added 20.
Return of the MAC (Player of the Year)
Creighton second-year assistant coach Carrie Moore was the Mid-American Conference Co-Player of the Year in 2007 as a Western Michigan Bronco, but she's still looking for her first career win against Bowling Green. Moore played at WMU from 2003-07 and went 0-6 against Bowling Green as a player, before suffering a loss as an assistant coach last year at BGSU. A three-time first-team all-MAC performer, Moore is WMU's all-time leading scorer with 2,224 points, starting all 120 games of her career. She set nine school records and four MAC records during her senior season in which she led the NCAA in scoring with 25.4 points per game.
Home Rarity
Creighton sits at 1-2 in home games this season, with Bowling Green's visit serving as the last regular-season non-conference home game on the schedule. The Bluejays need a win over BGSU to avoid just their second losing home non-conference record in the last 14 seasons. The Bluejays' only losing home non-conference record since 1998-99 came in 2006-07 when that team went 2-3 at home in non-conference play.
Second Half Efforts
Creighton has shot well in the second half of its last two games, unfortunately for the Bluejays, those second halves followed poor shooting first halves. Against No. 3 Notre Dame, the Jays shot just 3-of-20 (.150) in the first half and against Nebraska the Bluejays were 7-of-28 (.250) from the floor. CU is shooting a combined 27-of-52 (.519) from the field in the second half after shooting 10-of-48 (208) in the first half of those two losses. On the season, the Jays are shooting 43.6 percent from the field in the second half, compared to 35.6 percent in the first half.
No Bad Losses
Creighton is 4-4 on the year, but the combined record of the four teams which have beaten the Bluejays is 32-5. Notre Dame (9-1), Nebraska (9-1), Kansas (8-1) and South Dakota (6-2) are all off to impressive starts, as the Fighting Irish are ranked third and the Cornhuskers are ranked 25th in this week's AP poll. The four teams CU has defeated this year are a combined 14-21, with North Carolina State (6-2) the only team with a winning record.
Ally Jensen Closing in on 100
With a team-leading 17 three-pointers in her first seven games, junior Ally Jensen is closing in on 100 career trifectas in her career. She now has 96 career three-pointers, four 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
96 Ally Jensen 2009-
Nelson Isn't Missing Much
Sarah Nelson ranks sixth in the NCAA in field goal percentage, making 62.9 percent of her shots this season. The sophomore is shooting even better at home, making 70.8 percent of her shots at D.J. Sokol Arena this year. She is 17-of-24 from the field at home this season.
Shots Not Falling for Everyone
While Sarah Nelson ranks among NCAA leaders in shooting and is making better than 70 percent of her shots at home, the rest of her teammates aren't enjoying the same success. Outside of Nelson, the Bluejays are shooting just 31.2 percent from the field at home. Take Ally Jensen's 40.7 percent shooting away at home games and the Bluejays outside of Jensen and Nelson are down to 28.9 percent combined from the field.
Sixty More Nifty Than Fifty
Creighton is 4-0 this year when it scores at least 60 points and 0-4 when it is held under 60. Since Jim Flanery took over, the Bluejays have won 23 games when scoring less than 60 points, but are only 23-63 (.267) when doing so. The Jays are 151-57 (.726) when scoring at least 60 points under Flan, including an even more impressive 100-19 (.840) when scoring 70 points.
Freshman Makes History
Taylor Johnson became the first freshman in school history to make at least four three-point field goals in consecutive games earlier this year when she drained four against both NC State (Nov. 27) and at Wyoming (Dec. 1). The rookie has found her shooting touch, as she is now 9-of-20 (.450) from long range in her last three games after making 1-of-14 (.071) to start her career. She was the first Bluejay to make at least four threes in consecutive games since Kelsey Woodard did so in the final two games of the 2008-09 season.
Ally Jensen Returns From Rib Injury
Junior Ally Jensen suffered an injured rib in Creighton's win over NC State (Nov. 27) and the injury forced her to miss a game for the first time in her career, sitting at Wyoming (Dec. 1). The guard appeared to be back in fine form against No. 3 Notre Dame (Dec. 4), leading the team with 12 points, while making 3-of-5 three-pointers to raise her 3-point percentage to 41.7 on the season.
Home is Where the Wins Are
Creighton went 12-2 at D.J. Sokol Arena last year, and is now 25-7 (.781) at its new home. The Bluejays are 97-32 (.756) at home under Jim Flanery, including 64-17 (.790) in MVC play at home under Flanery.
Defending D.J.
The Bluejays are 25-7 all-time their new home. In those 32 games, the Bluejays have allowed less than 60 points points 22 times – including 12 of their last 17 games. Bluejay opponents are averaging just 55.8 points per game in the 32 games played inside D.J. Sokol Arena.
Sammy I Am
Freshman Sammy Jensen played a total of 29 minutes through five appearances in Creighton's first six games this year, not attempting a field goal in any of her first five games. The rookie finally pulled the trigger when she found herself open in the corner for a three-point attempt in the first half against No. 3 Notre Dame (Dec. 4). She drained the trifecta and would play a season-high 17 minutes against the Fighting Irish.
Home Away From Home
Creighton is 3-2 on the road this season after posting a combined 2-8 record in non-conference road games over its previous two seasons. Creighton is in search of its first winning record on the road in non-conference play since Jim Flanery's first season in 2002-03 when the Bluejays went 6-2 in non-conference road games (3-2 in the regular-season and 3-0 in the WNIT). The Jays were 2-2 in non-conference road games in 2004-05 and 4-4 on the non-con road in 2003-04.
Flan Schedules the Big Boys (or Girls)
Creighton's game against Nebraska was its fourth 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 65 games against BCS schools in that span, 25 more than the next closest MVC school – Drake (39). Flanery's 19 wins against BCS schools in that span are nine 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 65 19
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
The Ally Way Doubles
Junior Ally Jensen scored 12 points against No. 3 Notre Dame (Dec. 4) for her fourth double-figure scoring game in her first six games played this year. As a sophomore, she scored in double figures just four times in 31 games all season. The guard is shooting 43.6 percent from three point range this year, making 17-of-39 shots from deep. 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: 2-Time MVC Player of the Week
Whatever the opposite of a sophomore slump is, Sarah Nelson is doing it. The sophomore was named the MVC Player of the Week twice in the first three weeks of the season, earning the honor on Nov. 28 following a week in which she averaged 16.5 points and 13.5 rebounds and set career-highs for rebounds and points in a game. Nelson turned in a career-high 17 rebounds against South Dakota (Nov. 22) and followed with a career-high 22 points against NC State (Nov. 27). She made 9-of-10 shots against the Wolfpack and to finish the week 14-of-20 (.700) from the field.
• Nelson also earned MVC Player of the Week honors after the opening week of the season when she averaged 14.5 points per game and made 12-of-16 shots (.750) from the field in road wins at North Dakota and North Dakota State.
• Nelson is the first Bluejay two be named MVC Player of the Week twice in one season since Megan Neuvirth in 2008-09.
• Nelson is the first Bluejay to be named MVC Player of the Week twice in the same month since Christy Neneman in February 2002.
• Nelson scored in double figures in her first six games this year after never scoring 10+ in consecutive games at all as a freshman.
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 174 10
Connie Yori 170 10
Gaye Kinnett 33 3
Eddye McClure 26 3
Howard Faber 11 1
Shoot Better, Win More
Creighton is shooting 45.0 percent from the field and 84.0 percent from the free-throw line in its four wins this year, after opening the season by shooting 46.7 in its first two games for its best shooting start since 1994. The Bluejays are shooting just 34.3 from the field and 61.1 percent at the line in their four losses. 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.
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.
Tritz Reaches 400 Points Rapidly
With 13 points against South Dakota (Nov. 22), sophomore Carli Tritz eclipsed 400 career points in just her 35th career game. She became 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 quickly reach 400 – Christy Neneman (37), Kelsey Woodard (38) and Laura Spanheimer (39) – were all edged out by Tritz.
Impact Rookies
Freshmen Taylor Johnson (6.4 ppg) and Alexis Akin-Otiko (5.6 ppg) rank fourth and fifth on the team, respectively, in scoring through eight games. Johnson scored a career-high 15 points against NC State (Nov. 27) and followed with 12 points at Wyoming (Dec. 1), combining to go 8-for-17 (.471) from three-point range in those two games. Akin-Otiko 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. Akin-Otiko is averaging 3.9 rebounds per game to rank third on the team, despite averaging just 15.5 minutes per game.
Double-Double-Double
Sarah Nelson posted back-to-back double-doubles against South Dakota (Nov. 22) and NC State (Nov. 27). Nelson is the first Bluejay to post consecutive double-doubles since Sam Schuett did so on Jan. 2 & 7, 2010. The sophomore has three double-doubles on the year after logging just one double-dime all of last season.
Cleaning the Glass
Sarah Nelson had the best rebounding game by a Bluejay since 2003 on Nov. 22 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.
3s by the Dozen
Creighton made a season-high 12 three-pointer in its 74-67 win over NC State (Nov. 27). The game marked the 20th time under Jim Flanery the Bluejays have made at least 12 triples in one game, moving Creighton's record to 16-4 (.800) under Flan when making at least 12 threes. The Jays are now 33-11 (.750) under Flan when making 10 or more three-pointers in a game.
Career Highs All Around
The Bluejays had four players score career-high point totals in their 74-67 win over NC State (Nov. 27), led by Sarah Nelson's 22 points. Taylor Johnson entered the NC State game with 13 points scored in her first four collegiate games before snapping out of her shooting funk by hitting 4-of-10 three-pointers and finishing with 15 points. Junior Jasmin Corbin scored a career-high nine points, making a career-best 6-of-6 free throws, and sophomore Jordan Garrison finished with a career-high nine points by making 3-of-5 three-pointers in her first career start. Junior Ally Jensen dished a career-high seven assists – three more than her previous career-best – while she also equalled her career-high with six rebounds against the Wolfpack.
Garrison Returns to Form
Sophomore Jordan Garrison missed the first 12 games of her freshman season and played in just 16 due to a stress fracture in her left leg. The three-point sharp-shooter made 4-of-20 (.200) shots from long range in her 16 games played last year. Turn the page to this season and she has made 10-of-27 (.370) three-point shots in her first eight games, which included her first career start against NC State (Nov. 27). Garrison made 3-of-5 threes for a career-best nine points against NC State.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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