Creighton University
7-5
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Kansas
8-4
Late Game Heroics Lift Women's Basketball Over Kansas in Overtime
12/22/2014 9:07:00 PM | Women's Basketball
OMAHA, Neb. -- Sophomore MC McGrory forced overtime with a 25-footer at the buzzer, and freshman Sydney Lamberty's lay-up with 8.8 seconds in overtime lifted Creighton women's basketball to an 84-81 victory over Kansas on Monday night.
Creighton improved to 7-5 with the win, snapping an 11-game losing streak to Kansas since last topping the Jayhawks in 2004. Kansas fell to 8-4 with the loss, including an 0-3 road record.
Creighton used a 9-0 run midway through the first half to build a 17-10 lead and force a KU timeout. But the Jayhawks would draw closer, mostly via free throws, before a Chayla Cheadle three-pointer beat the halftime buzzer to give KU a 32-30 lead at intermission.
Creighton started the second half strong, going on a 10-0 run to build a 42-35 lead and force another Kansas timeout with 15:44 to play. Marissa Janning had two three-pointers in the run, while McGrory added two jumpers, to fuel the flurry.
Kansas quickly answered with five straight points to draw within two, only to see Rollerson respond with consecutive scores to earn her third double-double of her career.
Kansas answered back with scores on five straight possessions as part of an 11-4 run, moving ahead 54-52 on an Asia Boyd trey with 7:26 to play. Creighton reclaimed the lead 86 seconds later on Janning's traditional three-point play, 57-56, but Natalie Knight answered with a three-pointer at the five-minute mark for the two-point lead for KU (59-57).
After Janning sank two foul shots with 2:48 left to tie it at 63-all, the game's 11th tie of the night, Kansas' Terriell Bradley gave KU the lead with just over two minutes to play, sinking a three-pointer from the right corner. Janning answered with a driving lay-up, bringing Creighton within one point (66-65).
Bradley dropped in a driving jumper, giving Kansas a 68-65 lead with 45.3 to go. Janning again drove for a lay-up with 33.2 left, bringing CU within one. Creighton fouled Knight with 14.5 left, but the 89.5 percent shooter missed both.
Following a timeout with 9.7 left, Creighton found Janning, but she missed a shot and the Bluejays fouled with 3.2 left. Lauren Aldridge sank both setting the stage for McGrory's 25-footer at the final horn.
Creighton scored the first five points of overtime and led most of the way in the extra session, but Knight scored with 14.4 left to give Kansas an 81-80 lead. With the entire building focused on reigning BIG EAST Player of the Year Janning, Lamberty faked a hand-off and drive for the lay-up to give Creighton the lead with 8.8 left.
Aldridge missed on the other end and McGrory snared the rebound. She made two free throws with 1.3 left and CU survived when Bradley's half-court heave was off the mark.
Janning led all players with 23 points while playing 43 minutes as all five Creighton starters scored at least 13 points. Rollerson had career-highs with 16 points, 13 rebounds and four blocked shots, while McGrory tied her personal-best with 14 points. Alexis Akin-Otiko also played well, recording her first career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Creighton shot 39.7 percent for the game and won the rebound battle 41-40. The Jays had 14 assists against just six turnovers, adding seven blocks and seven steals.
Kansas was paced by Bradley's career-high 21 points, while Knight had a season-best with 19 points. KU shot 45.5 percent from the field and 22-of-28 at the line, but also had 16 turnovers that Creighton converted into 23 points.
Creighton returns to BIG EAST play on Dec. 30 with a 7:05 pm home game vs. Georgetown.
NOTES: Junior guard Taylor Johnson celebrated her 22nd birthday on Monday ... Kansas owned a 28-3 lead in bench points ... Jim Flanery improved to 16-10 in overtime games at Creighton, including a 1-0 record this year ... The game featured 12 ties and 16 lead changes.
