Creighton University
8-6, 1-2
Xavier
10-4,2-1
Bluejays' WBB Falls in Final Minute at Xavier, 66-65
1/2/2015 8:50:00 PM | Women's Basketball
CINCINNATI, Ohio - The Creighton women's basketball dropped a difficult 66-65 decision in the final minute at Xavier on Friday, Jan. 2.
The loss dropped the Bluejays to 8-6 on the season and 1-2 in BIG EAST play, while Xavier moved to 10-4 overall and 2-1 in conference action.
Junior Marissa Janning got Creighton got off to a quick start with five points in the opening three minutes as the Bluejays built a 10-2 lead. Xavier answered with eight of the next 10 points to make it a 12-10 game with 15:13 on the clock.
Up 16-13 moments later, freshman Sydney Lamberty gave her team a boost with a driving layup. She went on to convert the traditional three-point play to make it 19-13 (12:06). The Bluejays held their edge and pushed their lead back to its largest margin of eight points at 25-17 (8:36) on a tip-in from sophomore Brianna Rollerson.
Xavier, however, capped a 19-8 run to close the first half with back-to-back three-pointers. The result was a 36-33 lead for the Musketeers at the break.
Following the break, Creighton opened the second half with a 10-2 run to reclaim the lead at 43-38. Sophomore MC McGrory keyed the Bluejays' surge with five points.
The game went back and forth for the remainder of the second period, but two treys from sophomore Lauren Works appeared to turn the tide in favor of the Bluejays.
Leading 65-61 with just over one minute remaining, the Bluejays seemed poised to wrap up the game with a defensive stop. Xavier's Maddison Blackwell, however, fought for her own offensive rebound then hit a desperation three-pointer with 44 seconds remaining to make it 65-64.
On offense the Bluejays worked the clock under 10 seconds, but were unable to increase their lead. With eight seconds remaining in the game, Xavier put the ball in the hands of Maleeka Kynard to race the length of the floor for the game-winning layup.
Lamberty led the Bluejays with 13 points and seven assists, while McGrory finished with 12 points.
Creighton returns to action on Sunday, Jan. 4 as the Bluejays battle Butler at 12 p.m. CT
