Creighton University
Bowling Green
Bluejays Edge Falcons 49-47 in Women's Basketball
12/18/2011 2:48:00 PM | Women's Basketball
OMAHA, Neb. - Sarah Nelson grabbed her team-leading fourth double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds to help lead the Creighton women's basketball team to a 49-47 win over Bowling Green Sunday afternoon at D.J. Sokol Arena. The Bluejays overcame a 10-point first-half deficit to post the win and improve to 5-4 on the season.
After trailing 18-8 in the first half, a 14-5 run to end the half gave the Bluejays a 26-25 lead heading into halftime. The Falcons (7-3) made the first bucket of the second half to take an early lead, but Creighton would scored the next six points and own that lead until Bowling Green's Danielle Havel drained a three-pointer with 3:34 to tie the game at 42.
The Bluejays responded to Havel's basket with a traditional three-point play from Nelson, but BGSU again answered with a three-pointer to even the game at 45. Allison Papenfuss hit a jumper with just over two minutes remaining to give Bowling Green a 47-46 lead, its first lead since 1:15 into the second half. Carli Tritz stepped up and drained a wide open three-pointer - what proved to be the game-winning shot - on CU's next possession to give the Jays a 49-47 edge
On BGSU's ensuing possession, the Falcons were whistled for a charge, as freshman Sammy Jensen stood her ground against Chrissy Steffen with 43 seconds on the clock. Tritz missed a shot on Creighton's final offensive possession, setting up the Falcons for a game-tying or winning attempt inside of 10 seconds to play. Papenfuss had the ball in her hand for a close range shot with less than two seconds on the clock, but her shot rimmed off and the Jays' snapped their two-game skid while ending Bowling Green's seven-game winning streak.
The Falcons, who have won seven consecutive Mid-American Conference championships, surged to an 11-2 lead, as Creighton committed a turnover on its first three possessions before attempting its first shot. Bowling Green made five of its first seven shot in the game to build its lead, which was as its largest in the first half following Chrissy Steffen's free throw with 9:28 left, giving the Falcons an 18-8 lead.
From there, it was Creighton's turn to surge, closing the half on a 14-5 run, which was keyed by three consecutive three-pointers. The Bluejays started 0-for-8 from three-point range, before Ally Jensen knocked in Creighton's first trey with 1:51 left in the half. Jordan Garrison then canned one from the corner on an assist from Jensen and when Tritz nailed a three-pointer on CU's next possession, the Bluejays owned their first lead of the game, up 26-25.
That 26-25 lead stood at halftime for the Bluejays. Creighton converted nine Bowling Green turnovers into 12 points, while the Falcons used eight Bluejay turnovers to lead to nine points in the first half.
Nelson led all players with her 17 points and 10 rebounds, which included pulling down the final rebound of the game after Papenfuss missed the game-tying attempt. Nelson, who entered the game ranked sixth in the NCAA in field-goal percentage, made 6-of-9 shots from inside the three-point arc.
Tritz finished with 12 points, including 2-for-2 from three-point range and the game's winning basket.
Steffen led the Falcons with 10 points, while Papenfuss finished with eight points and team-high nine rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench. Alexis Rogers, a transfer from Duke, had nine points, seven rebounds and four steals before fouling out with 2:31 left in the game.
CU was just 6-of-11 (.545) at the free-throw line, but BGSU finished only 3-of-8 (.375) at the stripe.
The Bluejays now head to San Antonio where they will play in the UTSA Holiday Classic starting Tuesday against UTSA (3-6). The Jays then play Colorado (9-0) on Wednesday.
