Creighton University
Indiana State
Women's Basketball Wins Again, Chops Sycamores 71-62
2/17/2011 9:36:00 PM | Women's Basketball
OMAHA, Neb. - Kelsey Woodard had 15 points and tied a career-high with seven assists to lead four Bluejays in double-figures as Creighton defeated Indiana State, 71-62, on Thursday night at D.J. Sokol Arena.
Creighton won for the seventh time in its last eight games, improving to 17-8 on the season and 11-3 in Missouri Valley Conference play. Indiana State dropped to 12-12 and is 6-7 in Valley action.
Indiana State raced to an 8-0 lead in the opening two minutes, getting two free throws from Deja Mattox and back-to-back three-pointers by Taylor Whitley and Kelsie Cooley to prompt a Bluejay timeout. Woodard would make short work of ISU's lead, making four of her first five shots to score nine quick points and get CU within 12-11. CU then drained three three-pointers from the right side, two by Ally Jensen and one from Jasmin Corbin, and a nifty leaner inside by Carli Tritz, to take a 22-12 lead and cap a 17-0 run.
Creighton led 32-23 at intermission, led by nine points from Woodard and eight more from fellow senior Sam Schuett. ISU had 13 turnovers to just four for Creighton at the break.
The Sycamores took advantage of a slow Bluejay start to the second half, getting a three-pointer by Mattox to narrow the gap to 38-35. After a four-minute review of the courtside monitor, freshman Alyssa Kamphaus scored twice inside to give the Jays a 42-35 cushion. Just when it looked like CU might be pulling away, Indiana State answered. The Sycamores got two free throws from Brittany Schoen after an intentional foul was called against Woodard after a second video review, and Schoen followed with a lay-in to beat the shot clock the ensuing possession to trim the Bluejay lead to 44-41.
Not long after, Mattox drained another trey in front of the ISU bench, pulling the Trees within 48-46. Schoen then sank two more at the stripe with 9:16 left to make it 49-48, but CU's Jensen answered with a trey and a Schuett driving lay-up to hand the momentum back to the home bench, up six with eight minutes to go. CU then scored out of a timeout when Woodard fed Tritz for a lay-up, putting the Jays up eight points. Tritz converted a three-point play a short time later to give CU a 61-50 lead. ISU got within seven points three different times after that, but no closer.
Creighton was led in scoring by Woodard, who had 15 points, while Schuett added 13, Jensen 12 and Tritz 11. Creighton shot 21-of-50 from the field, including 6-of-16 from long-range and 23-for-30 from the line. Woodard led CU with seven assists, while Sarah Nelson, Schuett and Woodard shared rebounding honors with five each. Creighton's bench outscored ISU 24-2, including 12 from Jensen and six by Kamphaus. Tritz led all players with four steals.
Indiana State was led by 20 points from Whitley, which tied her season-high, while Mattox and Shannon Thomas each had 13. Cooley led ISU with six rebounds. ISU shot 22-of-46 for the game, including 7-of-15 from long-range, and also made 11-of-17 free throws.
Creighton returns to action on Saturday with a 2:05 pm game against third-place Illinois State (17-7, 9-4 MVC). The game can be heard on KOIL (1180) and fans are encouraged to wear pink as part of a Breast Cancer Awareness promotion. Bluejay seniors Kellie Nelson, Schuett and Woodard will be honored following the contest as part of Senior Day festivities.
NOTES: Corbin had three steals in the first 10 minutes to establish a new career-high in that category ... Woodard played in her 124th career game, tied for fifth-most in CU history. Woodard fouled out for just the second time in her career. ... Woodard scored in double-figures for the 70th time in her career ... Kelsie Cooley fouled out with 11:16 left for Indiana State ... Woodard tied her career-high with seven assists, done twice previously ...Creighton is now 13-0 this season when leading at halftime and has won 17 straight when up at the break dating to last year ... Creighton has won five straight meetings with Indiana State ... Jim Flanery is now 63-17 in MVC home games, including a 7-1 mark this year ... Schuett moved into 17th place in MVC history for career rebounds. She had five rebounds to move past Evansville's Shyla Puelston (833) with 836 in her career ... ISU scored 62 points, the first time CU has allowed more than 60 points in its last 17 Valley wins.
