Women's Basketball Hosts Providence in Pink Game on Sunday
2/13/2015 7:48:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Bluejays and Friars have met four times, including twice in 2013-14. Creighton has claimed victories in each meeting.
Creighton leads 4-0
Home: 1-0 Away: 2-0 Neutral: 1-0
Date Result Score/Site
3/21/97 W 91-89 in Amarillo @
1/11/14 W 97-65 at Providence
2/15/14 W 85-64 in Omaha
1/16/14 W 65-54 at Providence
@ = WNIT Tournament
Scouting Providence (5-19, 2-11 BIG EAST)
Providence and Creighton are heading in different directions entering play on Sunday as the Friars have dropped 11 of their last 12 contests.
One item that could change things on Sunday is if Tori Rule can return. The Friars' leading scorer (13.6 ppg), Rule has missed the last nine contests with an undisclosed injury. Without Rule the Friars are 1-8.
Providence will be without the service of starting point guard Sarah Beal, who has been sidelined since Jan. 2. Beal underwent surgery on Feb. 2 and will miss the remainder of the 2014-15 season.
Without two of their primary ball handlers the Friars are averaging just under 18 turnovers per game (18.8 in BIG EAST play).
Keys to the Game w/Providence:
- Continue the play of the past four games: Creighton's increased focus on defense has led to a five-game win streak. The Bluejays must continue to focus on both ends of the court..
- Take care of the ball: Providence will pressure the basketball as much as possible. With eight steals per game, the Friars want to cause chaos.
- Get Janning going early: Junior Marissa Janning has thrived since returning to the point guard role. One key has been her ability to score early, then get the rest of her teammates involved.
Creighton vs. Cancer - Pink Out
Sunday's game against Providence is a “Pink Out” and fans are encouraged to wear pink in support of cancer awareness.
The first 1,000 fans will receive a commemorative pink Creighton Vs. Cancer t-shirt sponsored by the Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center and CHI Health.
This is the second consecutive season that Creighton's matchup with Providence has been the Bluejays' Pink Game.
In addition to their own Play4Kay pink game, Creighton will also be the opponent for Georgetown on (Feb. 27) during its pink contests. The Bluejays will wear their white uniforms with pink outlines against Providence as well as at Georgetown.
Pink Game Personal for Akin-Otiko
For senior Alexis Akin-Otiko the Bluejays Pink Game in Support of Breast Cancer hits a little closer to home as she and her family lost her mother her mother to breast cancer when Alexis was in sixth grade.
Can't Make the Game, Catch it on BEDN
The Bluejays' battle with the Friars on Sunday will be available free of charge on the BIG EAST Digital Network (BEDN) via FOXSportsGO.com
Mobile users can watch the game on the FOX Sports GO app for mobile devices (iOS, Android, Kindle Fire tablets and Fire phones and select Window devices).
BEDN has its own branded channel within FOX Sports GO and the FOX Sports GO mobile app can be downloaded for free from the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Amazon App Store or the Windows Store.
Playing Crazy 8s
After stopping Butler's eight-game win streak on Sunday, Feb. 1 with a 62-55 win. Creighton repeated the feat at Seton Hall on Sunday, Feb. 8, downing the Pirates 81-73. The Bluejays may have another chance to take down an eight-game charge as DePaul has won six straight and play two before meeting Creighton on Feb. 20.
Bluejays Take Down Fourth Longest Home Win Streak Again
Creighton's win (88-81) over South Dakota State on Nov. 18 ended the Jackrabbits 22-game win streak on their home floor. At the time it was the fourth longest home win streak in NCAA.
The Bluejays ended the fourth longest home win streak again on Feb. 8, stopping Seton Hall's 20-game stretch with an 81-73 win.
Last Meeting with Providence: Creighton 65, Providence 54
Freshman Sydney Lamberty's 18 second-half points led Creighton to a 65-54 win over Providence on Friday, Jan. 16.
Trailing 34-29 early in the second half, Lamberty came alive after draining a 24-foot three-pointer. The Minnesota native converted a traditional three-point play moments later to knot the game at 38-38 (15:50).
Following another five-point burst by Providence, Lamberty knocked down another trifecta followed by a layup and two free throws to give Creighton its first lead of the second half, 45-43 (12:59). The Bluejays did not trail again.
Up 50-48 with just over seven minutes left, seven straight points from senior Brianna Rollerson, Akin-Otiko and a triple from McGrory put the game away (57-48 with 4:56 left).
Lamberty's 18 points led all scorers, while McGrory finished with 15 points. Akin-Otiko delivered a double-double at 14 points as well as a career-high 13 rebounds, while Rollerson grabbed 10 rebounds.
Providence got 13 points from Chanise Baldwin, while Allegra Botteghi, Alexis Harris and Evi Iskola all finished with 10 points.
Broadway and Madison Square Garden Provide Winning Recipe?
On the Bluejays recent trip to New York/New Jersey, a sweep of St. John's and Seton Hall, the Bluejays took a little time for themselves.
After arriving on Thursday, Feb. 5 the Bluejays practiced at St. John's, then caught a Broadway show that evening. The team split up with half watching Mama Mia and the other half catching Les Misérables. The following night Creighton pasted St. John's 75-50.
Before heading to Seton Hall on Saturday, Feb. 7 the Bluejays got a tour of Madison Square Garden then watched the men's basketball game with St. John's. On Sunday, Creighton continued its winning ways with an 81-73 win at Seton Hall.
Cool in the Clutch
Sophomore MC McGrory's game-changing three-pointer against Seton Hall gave the Bluejays' a 75-73 lead with 2:11 remaining. She also went 4-for-4 from the line down the stretch to secure Creighton's 81-73 win.
Her performance is indicative of the way McGrory has played in the final three minues throughout the season.
MC has scored 40 of 206 points this season in the final three minutes of regulation. On the season, McGrory is 7-for-12 (.583) from the field and 24-of-28 from the free throw line (.857) in the last three minutes of regulation.
Leading at the Turn
Through 24 games Creighton has held the lead at halftime nine times, the Bluejays are 9-0 in those contests. By contrast, Creighton is 5-10 when trailing at half and have yet to go into the break tied.
