Women's Basketball Hosts No. 3 Notre Dame Sunday

#3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Creighton Bluejays
Game #7 • Sunday, Dec. 4 • 1:35 pm
Ryan Athletic Center & D.J. Sokol Arena (2,500) • Omaha, Neb.
Series History: Notre Dame leads 2-0
Twitter: @GoCreighton, @CreightonWBB
Free Video | Live Stats | Tickets

• This game will not be carried on KOIL AM 1180, but fans can listen to the normal game audio feed by watching a special FREE edition of the video webcast at the link provided above.

• Notre Dame is the second ranked team to play at D.J. Sokol Arena, the first was No. 15 Oklahoma on Dec. 20, 2009, a 67-58 Bluejay loss in which CU led 30-27 at halftime.

• Notre Dame is the fourth team in the last decade to travel to Omaha following a season in which it reached the Final Four. Missouri State (2002), Minnesota (2004) and Oklahoma (2009) also played at Creighton following their Final Four runs.

• Creighton last topped a ranked team in 2008, but has not defeated a ranked team in Omaha since beating No. 14 Kansas on Dec. 7, 1999.

• Taylor Johnson is the first freshman in school history to make at least four three-point field goals in consecutive games. The rookie is 8-of-17 (.471) from beyond the arc in Creighton's last two games, averaging 13.5 points in the two wins.

• Creighton has won its last two games despite missing a different starting guard in each contest. Carli Tritz (illness) missed the NC State game (Nov. 27) and Ally Jensen (rib) missed the Wyoming game (Dec. 1).

• Two-time MVC Player of the Week Sarah Nelson is averaging 18.0 points and 11.7 rebounds per game, shooting 66.7 percent (22-33) from the field in her last three games.

• Nelson started the week ranked seventh in the NCAA with a 65.2 field-goal percentage. Her three double-doubles were tied for 10th in the nation to start the week.

• Creighton is shooting 45.0 percent from the field and 84.0 percent from the free throw line in its four wins this year, while it is shooting 32.3 percent from the floor and 55.6 percent at the line in its two losses.

Scouting the Bluejays
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 15.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game, while averaging a double-double over her last three contests ... Nelson started the week ranked seventh in the NCAA in field goal percentage, now making 64.4 percent of her shots ... 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 14.6 points in her last three games ... ... Ally Jensen (10.2 ppg) leads CU with 4.2 assists per game and 12 three-pointers ... Freshman Taylor Johnson is 8-of-17 (.471) from three-point range in Creighton's last two games.

Scouting the Fighting Irish
No. 3-ranked Notre Dame is 6-1 after a home win against Penn on Friday night ... The Irish return four starters from last year's NCAA runner-up team which finished 31-8 ... Notre Dame's only loss this year came to No. 1 Baylor ... Notre Dame ranks third in the NCAA with a plus 12.0 turnover margin, forcing 26.9 turnovers per game as aided by their seventh-ranked 16.0 steals per game ... All-American Skylar Diggins leads Notre Dame in scoring (19.0 ppg), assists (35) and steals (24) ... Natalie Novosel is averaging 16.7 points per game and Kayla McBride is at 12.3 points per game ... Devereaux Peters leads the team with 6.1 rebounds per game.

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 174-118 (.596). 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.
• Muffet McGraw (Saint Joseph's, 1977), is in her 25th season at Notre Dame and 29th as a collegiate head coach. She is 562-212 (.726) in South Bend and 650-253 (.720) in her career, ranking among the top-ten active Division I head coaches in wins. She's taken her teams to 18 NCAA Tournaments, nine Sweet 16s, three Final Fours and the 2001 NCAA National Title.

Creighton-Notre Dame Series History
The Fighting Irish are 2-0 all-time against the Bluejays, winning the first meeting 69-48 on Jan. 9, 1982 at tournament in Minneapolis hosted by St. Catherine's. Notre Dame also topped the Bluejays 91-54 in South Bend last year. This will mark Notre Dame's first trip to Omaha for women's basketball.

Last Year vs. Notre Dame
The Irish made 15 of their first 17 shots from the field to pull away from the Bluejays early in a 91-54 Creighton loss on Dec. 11, 2010 in South Bend. Notre Dame used a 14-2 run to close the first half and take control of the game. The Irish shot an opponent season-high 63.3 percent in the game, making 38-of-60 shots in the win. Skylar Diggins led four Irish players in double figures with 18 points. Sam Schuett led the Bluejays with 13 points and eight rebounds. Ally Jensen added 11 points and team-best three assists, making 3-of-7 three-pointers. Carli Tritz was slowed by a sprained ankle, making 2-of-6 shots for four points.

Against the Top 25
Notre Dame, ranked No. 3 this week, is the first team ranked in the Associated Press top-25 the Bluejays have faced this year. The Bluejays have lost their last six games against AP top-25 teams since winning 75-71 at No. 24 Illinois State on Feb. 2, 2008. The Bluejays have not defeated a non-conference top-25 team since knocking off No. 14 Kansas 55-54 at home on Dec. 7, 1999. The Jays are 1-13 against ranked teams under Jim Flanery.

Beasts of the Big East
Creighton is in search of a home win over a Big East foe for the second straight season, following a 63-61 win over Marquette last November in Omaha. Marquette was unranked at the time, but would break into the top-25 and reach the NCAA Tournament last year. The Bluejays are 1-4 against the Big East under Jim Flanery (1-2 vs Marquette, 0-1 vs. Rutgers, 0-1 vs. Notre Dame).

Freshman Makes History
Taylor Johnson is the first freshman in school history to make at least four three-point field goals in consecutive games, as the rookie has hit four triples in each of CU's last two games after making one in her first four career outings. She is 8-of-17 (.471) from long range in the last two games after making 1-of-14 (.071) to start her career. She's 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.

Flan Schedules the Big Boys (or Girls)
Creighton's game against Notre Dame is its third 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 63 games against BCS schools in that span, 24 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    63    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

Home is Where the Wins Are
Creighton went 12-2 at D.J. Sokol Arena last year, and is now 25-6 (.806) at its new home. The Bluejays are 97-31 (.758) at home under Jim Flanery, including 64-17 (.790) in MVC play at home under Flanery.

Defending D.J.
The Bluejays are now 25-6 all-time their new home. In those 31 games, the Bluejays have allowed less than 60 points points 22 times – including 12 of their last 16 games. Bluejay opponents are averaging just 55.5 points per game in the 31 games played inside D.J. Sokol Arena.

Nelson: Two-Time MVC Player of the Week
Whatever the opposite of a sophomore slump is, Sarah Nelson is doing it. The sophomore has been named the MVC Player of the Week twice in the first three weeks of the season, earning the honor on Monday 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 has scored in double figures in all six games this year after never scoring 10+ in consecutive games at all as a freshman.
• The Omaha native is averaging 18.0 points and 11.7 rebounds per game in her last three contests, shooting 22-of-33 (.667) from the field in that span.

More About Nelson's Rebounds
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.

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 32.3 from the field and 55.6 percent at the line in their two 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.

Impact Rookies
Freshmen Alexis Akin-Otiko (6.7 ppg) and Taylor Johnson (6.2 ppg) rank fourth and fifth on the team, respectively, in scoring through six games. Johnson has scored 27 of her 40 points on the season in CU's last two games, including a career-high 15 against NC State in the Jays' last home game. 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 4.0 rebounds per game to rank third on the team, despite averaging just 15.3 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 in six games this year, to rank 10th in the NCAA in that category to begin the week.

Get to 70
Creighton is 3-0 this year when scoring 70 points and 1-2 when it fails to reach 70. The Bluejays are now 100-19 (.840) under head coach Jim Flanery when they score 70 points in a game.

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.

Nelson Not Missing
Sarah Nelson went 9-of-10 from the field against North Carolina State on Nov. 27 to up her shooting percentage to 65.2 on the season. The sophomore currently ranks seventh in the NCAA in field goal percentage, having made 38-of-59 shots from the field through six games. Nelson is a perfect 2-for-2 from three-point range as well.

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 is leading the team in three-point accuracy, making 9-of-23 (.391) three-point shots in her first five 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.

Taylor Made
Freshman Taylor Johnson was noted as a shooter coming into the season, but struggled to find her shot in Creighton's first four games. The rookie was just 1-of-14 (.071) from three-point range with 13 points scored in CU's first four games. In her fifth game, things appeared to turn, as the shooter made 4-of-10 three-pointers against NC State and finished with 15 points to more than double her season point total.

The Ally Way
Junior Ally Jensen is shooting 38.7 percent from three point range this year, making 12-of-31 shots from deep. She's scored in double figures three times in five games already 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.

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.

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 91 career three-pointers, nine 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
        91    Ally Jensen    2009-

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.

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

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.

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.

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 (411), free-throws (82), free-throw attempts (118), steals (71) and assists (113).

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 (266) than points scored (190) – averaging less than two points per game – in her career.

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.

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

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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