Creighton University
4-4
Northern Iowa
1-6
Down 16 at Half, Creighton WBB Rallies for 58-56 Win at UNI
12/8/2014 10:46:00 PM | Women's Basketball
OMAHA, Neb. - Trailing 36-20 at halftime, freshman Sydney Lamberty led the Creighton women's basketball team back with her first career double-double to claim a 58-56 win at Northern Iowa on Monday, Dec. 8.
With the win the Bluejays moved to 4-4 on the season, while Northern Iowa dropped to 1-6 overall.
After a bucket to open the second period, Northern Iowa pushed equaled its largest lead of the game with a three-pointer to make it 39-22. That punch seemed to wake up the Bluejays' freshman as Lamberty and fellow freshman Jade Owens took charge.
Lamberty got Creighton going with its first three of the ballgame, then Owens converted back-to-back running jumpers to pull the Bluejays within 10 at 39-29 (14:39). Creighton's run continued as sophomore Brianna Rollerson dropped an bucket in the paint, then Lamberty made one of two from the line to make it 39-32 (13:14).
Playing in its first home game of the season, Northern Iowa didn't roll over. Without starting post Jen Keitel, who was injured in the final minute of the first half, the Panthers kept the Bluejays at arm's length with five three pointers in the second half.
Creighton got as close as four, three separate times as the clock ticked away. Each time the Panthers drilled a trey to push out once more. Ellie Herzburg knocked it the final trifecta with 4:10 remaining to make it 56-48.
The Bluejays, however, made the final push as Creighton held Northern Iowa off the scoreboard the rest of the way. Senior Alexis Akin-Otiko grabbed an offensive board and dropped in a bunny to make it 56-50 (3:48).
Following a UNI turnover, Lamberty sank a 12-footer (56-52) with 3:21 left. Then junior Marissa Janning made it a one possession game with a pull-up jumper from the right elbow with 2:32 showing on the clock.
Akin-Otiko tied the game at 56-56, then sophomore MC McGrory delivered the game-winner at 1:01.
"Coming off consecutive losses, this was a big win tonight," said head coach Jim Flanery.
Lamberty led Creighton with 14 points and 11 rebounds, including 11 points and nine rebounds in the second half, to record her first double-double as a Bluejay. Akin-Otiko finished with 10 points, while Janning and Owens each had nine points.
Herzberg led Northern Iowa with a game-high 17 points, while Brooke Brown posted 12 in the loss.
The last time Creighton battled back from a 16-point halftime deficit was on Nov. 28, 2012 when the Bluejays defeated BYU 65-62 in overtime.
Creighton returns to action on Thursday, Dec. 11 as the Bluejays battle #12 Nebraska at 8:01 p.m. The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1.
