Bluejay WBB Opens Home Schedule Against Drake

Omaha, Neb. -- The Creighton women's basketball teams opens its home schedule on Thursday, Nov. 17 as the Bluejays host Drake at 7:00 pm. Creighton and Drake have a longer history than any other team the Bluejays have faced. The Bulldogs own a 39-25 series edge.

11/17: - 7:00 pm: Drake (1-0) at Creighton (0-2)

Video (Free): www.gocreighton.com/watch

Radio (Free): 1180 AM - Brad Burwell (Play-by-Play) & Jon Schriner (Analyst)

Stats (Free): http://creighton.statbroadcast.com

Series History: Drake leads series, 39-25

Bird Seeds

Drake leads the all-time series with the Bluejays, 39-25 and holds a 12-14 edge over Creighton in Omaha.
The Bluejays have played more games against Drake (64) than any other opponent.
Head coach Jim Flanery is 15-15 all time against the Bulldogs, including an 8-4 record at home.
Creighton, however, has won four of the last six meetings with the Bulldogs.
This is the fourth time under head coach Jim Flanery that the Bluejays have dropped its first two contests (2008-09, 2006-07 & 2005-06). Creighton responded to win its third game during the 2005-06, which was also its home opener that season.
Creighton is 28-14 all-time in its first home game of the year, including 12-4 in its last 16 home openers.
Creighton is 10-4 in home openers under Flanery and the Bluejays are 5-2 in
openers at D.J. Sokol Arena.
Senior Marissa Janning will be playing her sixth game against the Bulldogs, fourth as a non-conference opponent. Janning is lone Bluejays on the roster that faced off with Drake when Creighton were members of the Missouri Valley Conference. (Brianna Rollerson was on the Bluejay roster, but redshirted the 2012-13 season).
Current Creighton assistant coach Linda Sayavongchanh was a standout player for the Bulldogs from 2002-06. She recorded 1,141 points and 384 assists as a Bulldog.

Scouting Drake (1-0)
Despite no longer being conference foes, the Bulldogs remain a rival for Creighton. Drake enters Thursday's contest following a 99-91 win over North Dakota on Nov. 11.

The focal point for the Bulldog offense is Lizzy Wendell. In the season opener she scored 34 points on 14-of-23 from the field. Three other Bulldogs reached double figures as well. Wendell and Caitlin Ingle were two of five players named to the MVC Preseason Team.

Defensively Drake likes to pressure the ball and force turnovers that lead to offense. The Bulldogs nabbed eight steals against the Fighting Hawks and netted 21 points off turnovers.

Keys to the Game w/Drake

Fast Start: The Bluejays have struggled in the first five minutes of the contests at South Dakota State and at Wichita State.
Transition defense: Creighton must limit easy buckets for the Bulldogs. This includes taking care of the basketball to prevent Drake from running.
Execute on offense: Creighton struggled to execute offensively in the first two games. Specifically senior Marissa Janning must get going.

Sayavongchanh Looks for First Win Against Former School
In two regular season battles and one exhibition contest as a coach against her alma mater Drake, Creighton assistant coach Linda Sayavongchanh has not faired well. A player at Drake from 2002-06, Sayavongchanh was on the Bulldog bench in 2006-07 and again from 2009-12.
While a graduate assistant at Minnesota-Duluth Drake bested Sayavongchanh 75-41 in an exhibition contest.

As a member of the North Dakota staff in 2012-13, Drake got her once more 67-63.
Last season as a coach for the Bluejays, Drake posted an 82-71 win in Des Moines.

Drake Domination or Bulldog Lover
Marissa Janning truly has enjoyed her time against the Drake Bulldogs. Janning has scored 20+ points in four of the five times she has faced Drake. Before putting up 30 in the last meeting in Omaha between the two squads on Dec. 14, 2014. She had 21 agains the Bulldogs in the season opening game of 2013-14, on Nov 8, 2013. As a freshman Janning scored 29 points on March 3, 2013 and 22 in Des Moines on Feb. 2, 2013.

Marissa's 114 points against the Bulldogs are the highest total points as well as scoring average (22.8 ppg) that she has against any opponent in her career.

Last season, however, Marissa was held to 12 points in a loss at Drake.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Marissa Janning

Brianna Rollerson