Creighton University
(17-12, 10-8BE)
Villanova
(18-12, 12-6BE)
Women's Basketball Falls at Villanova, 61-53
3/1/2015 3:16:00 PM | Women's Basketball
VILLANOVA, Pa. - The Creighton women's basketball team suffered a 61-53 defeat at Villanova on Sunday, March 1.
With the loss the Bluejays close the regular season with a 17-12 record and 10-8 mark in BIG EAST play. Villanova moved to 18-12 overall and 12-6 in conference action.
Creighton built an early 12-3 lead (13:09) scoring the first eight points of the game as Villanova opened the game 1-of-10 from the field.
The Bluejays also held a nine-point advantage (16-7) with 10:19 remaining, but the Wildcats refused to go down without a fight. Playing for its seniors, Villanova rattled off seven straight to make it an 18-16 contest (6:21), but Creighton got a three-pointer from Lauren Works and a pull-up jumper from MC McGrory to push its lead back to 23-16 (4:56).
Villanova's defense tightened over the final four minutes, but a layup from sophomore Brianna Rollerson with 2:24 remaining proved enough for Creighton to take a 25-24 lead into the break.
After Villanova claimed its first lead with the first bucket of the second half, Creighton responded with five straight to regain control. The Bluejays clung to the small advantage through the midpoint of the second half, leading 42-41 with 8:31 left, but Villanova was pulled away down the stretch.
"We allowed Villanova convert too many layups down the stretch out of their five-out offense," said head coach Jim Flanery. "I thought we defended pretty well in the first, but against a team that executes as well as Villanova does we have to stay focused for 40 minutes."
"This isn't the way we wanted to close the season," said freshman Jade Owens. "But we have another chance next week in the BIG EAST Tournament and that is our only focus now."
The Bluejay are officially the No. 5 seed in the BIG EAST Tournament and will face No. 4 St. John's at 2:30 pm (CT) on Sunday, March 8.
