Women's Hoops Looks To Extend Season at South Dakota
3/18/2015 1:04:00 PM | Women's Basketball
OMAHA, Neb. - The Creighton women's basketball team is out to extend its season as the Bluejays take on South Dakota in the opening round of the WNIT Tournament on Thursday, March 19 at 7:00 pm.
WNIT First Round - 3/19: Creighton (17-13) at South Dakota (25-7) - 7:00 pm
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First Postseason Battle, but Bluejays have dominated recent bouts with South Dakota
Creighton and South Dakota have met 20 times, including in each of the past four seasons. The Bluejays own a 12-8 series edge on the Coyotes, including victories in eight of the last nine meetings.
Thursday's contest will be the first meeting between the two teams in postseason play.
Creighton has taken the past two contests in Vermillion, winning 53-49 on Nov. 20, 2012 and 79-70 on Dec. 1, 2010.
The last Coyote victory over the Bluejays was on Nov. 22, 2011 (56-53) in Omaha.
Creighton and South Dakota have met 20 times, including in each of the past four seasons. The Bluejays own a 12-8 series edge on the Coyotes, including victories in eight of the last nine meetings.
Thursday's contest will be the first meeting between the two teams in postseason play.
Creighton has taken the past two contests in Vermillion, winning 53-49 on Nov. 20, 2012 and 79-70 on Dec. 1, 2010.
The last Coyote victory over the Bluejays was on Nov. 22, 2011 (56-53) in Omaha.
Flanery Has Lost Just Once in the Dakota States
South Dakota has an umblemished 14-0 recor at home this season, but head coach Jim Flanery and the Bluejays seem at home in the Dakota States.
Flanery and the Bluejays boast an 8-1 record in North and South Dakota, with the only loss coming last season in the WNIT.
Flanery in the Dakotas
3/20/08 at South Dakota State - W, 76-69 (OT) @
12/29/08 at North Dakota State - W, 51-40
12/1/10 at South Dakota - W, 79-70
11/11/11 at North Dakota - W, 72-54
11/14/11 at North Dakota State - W, 71-51
11/14/12 at South Dakota State - W, 63-54
11/20/12 at South Dakota - W, 53-49
3/3/15 at South Dakota State - L, 48-63 @
11/18/14 at South Dakota State - W, 88-81
@ - WNIT Game
Taking Down Home Win Streaks
South Dakota's 14-game home win streak will not intimidate the Bluejays on Thursday. Twice in 2014-15 Creighton has ended 20+ game win streaks on its opponents home floor, doing so at South Dakota State on Nov. 11 and again to Seton Hall on Feb. 8.
Scouting South Dakota (25-7)
A very experience and balanced unit, South Dakota is led by Nicole Seekamp and Raeshel Contreras. The duo have combined to average 30.4 ppg this season, led by 15.3 from Seekamp.
The Coyotes, however, are much more than a two woman show. Center Margaret McCloud is averaging just under 10 points per game (9.5 ppg) and Tia Hemiller is just a shade back at 8.8.
As a unit the Coyotes rank among the elite with an average of 78.1 points per game (12th in the NCAA).
Part of South Dakota's success this season is its ability to shoot free throws well and create turnovers.
Keys to the Game w/South Dakota:
South Dakota has an umblemished 14-0 recor at home this season, but head coach Jim Flanery and the Bluejays seem at home in the Dakota States.
Flanery and the Bluejays boast an 8-1 record in North and South Dakota, with the only loss coming last season in the WNIT.
Flanery in the Dakotas
3/20/08 at South Dakota State - W, 76-69 (OT) @
12/29/08 at North Dakota State - W, 51-40
12/1/10 at South Dakota - W, 79-70
11/11/11 at North Dakota - W, 72-54
11/14/11 at North Dakota State - W, 71-51
11/14/12 at South Dakota State - W, 63-54
11/20/12 at South Dakota - W, 53-49
3/3/15 at South Dakota State - L, 48-63 @
11/18/14 at South Dakota State - W, 88-81
@ - WNIT Game
Taking Down Home Win Streaks
South Dakota's 14-game home win streak will not intimidate the Bluejays on Thursday. Twice in 2014-15 Creighton has ended 20+ game win streaks on its opponents home floor, doing so at South Dakota State on Nov. 11 and again to Seton Hall on Feb. 8.
Scouting South Dakota (25-7)
A very experience and balanced unit, South Dakota is led by Nicole Seekamp and Raeshel Contreras. The duo have combined to average 30.4 ppg this season, led by 15.3 from Seekamp.
The Coyotes, however, are much more than a two woman show. Center Margaret McCloud is averaging just under 10 points per game (9.5 ppg) and Tia Hemiller is just a shade back at 8.8.
As a unit the Coyotes rank among the elite with an average of 78.1 points per game (12th in the NCAA).
Part of South Dakota's success this season is its ability to shoot free throws well and create turnovers.
Keys to the Game w/South Dakota:
- Take Away Seekamp or Contreras: In the Coyotes Summit League Championship loss to South Dakota State Contretas was just 1-for-10.
- Take Care of the Ball: South Dakota will selectively use pressure to try to create turnovers, as always the Bluejays must protect the ball.
- Force South Dakota to work on every position: The Coyotes like to push the score up, as noted by their 12th rated scoring average, but Creighton has handled teams like the Coyotes in Seton Hall and DePaul.
Hunger for Another Game
Sometimes the early rounds of the WNIT can be about which team wants to keep playing more than anything.
Both South Dakota and Creighton ended its respective conference tournament with a bad taste. South Dakota was upset in the title game by its rival South Dakota State. Creighton felt taken to the cleaners as St. John's slipped past them, thanks in large part to a no-call by the officials in the final seconds.
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