Women's Basketball Opens BIG EAST Play Against Butler

Omaha, Neb. -- Back on campus after the holiday break, the Bluejays are hoping for another present as Creighton opens BIG EAST play against Butler on Wednesday, Dec. 28.

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12/28: - 4:00 pm - Butler (3-8, 0-0 BIG EAST) at Creighton (6-4, 0-0 BIG EAST)
Series History: Creighton leads Butler, 4-3

Stats (Free): creighton.statbroadcast.com

Online (Free): BIG EAST Digital Network
http://foxsportsgo.com

Bird Seeds

Butler and Creighton have had a budding rivalry over the last three seasons as members of the BIG EAST. During the first year for both squads in the new
conference (2013-14), the Bulldogs swept the season series. The Bluejays, however won the third meeting in the BIG EAST Tournament. Last year Creighton swept both meetings, posting a 77-49 win in Omaha on Jan. 10.
The Bulldogs have dropped seven of their last eight, but posted a convincing 66-48 win over Indiana State on Dec. 11.
On paper this contest should go the Bluejays' way. Creighton is 4-0 at home, while Butler is 0-4 on the road.
Creighton is 1-2 in BIG EAST openers, dropping the last two contests. Creighton defeated Villanova in 2013-14, but lost to Seton Hall and St. John's respectively.
Like the Bluejays, the Bulldogs are headed into their fourth season as members of the BIG EAST. Butler is 0-3 in BIG EAST openers, falling to Marquette, DePaul and Villanova over the past three seasons.
Creighton has sank 10 or more three-pointers in three of their last four contests, including a program tying 16 in the win over Nebraska-Omaha on Dec. 7. In victories over Nebraska-Omaha (16), Nebraska (15) and Marist (10), Creighton hit a combined 41 treys. The Bulldogs, by contrast, has 50 from long range on the season.
After Butler's Brittany Ward earned the 2015-16 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, Butler's Kristen Spolyar is bucking to back-to-back, averaging 13.2 ppg & 3.5 rpg.

Butler vs. Creighton Series:
The Bluejays own a 4-3 edge on Butler. The two teams first meeting came during the 2013-14 season when both squads joined the BIG EAST. That season Butler won both regular season matchups, but fell to the Bluejays in the BIG EAST Tournament. Last season the Bluejays posted the sweep over the Bulldogs, extending their win streak in the series to three.

About Butler

Located in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Butler head coach Kurt Godlevske is in his third season at the helm. He has a career record of 27-45.
Godlevske enters Wednesday's contest with a 14-22 record in BIG EAST play.

Scouting Butler (3-8)
Butler won two of its first three contest, but went on to lose the next six.
The Bulldogs are led by a combined 26.8 points per game from Tori Schickel
(13.6 ppg) and Kristen Spolyar (13.2 ppg).
Butler has committed 227 turnovers this season, just under 21 per contest.
Sophomore Tori Schickel has grabbed 50 offensive rebounds this season, the rest of her team have 47.

Keys to the Game w/Butler

Block out Schickel: Not only has she grabbed more offensive rebounds than the rest of her team, she has 107 of the Bulldogs' 362 this season.
Take advantage of the Bulldogs' gifts: Butler's 21 turnover per game must lead to more than the Bluejays' average of 14.1 points off turnovers this season.
Be ready to shoot: The inside presence of Brianna Rollerson provides the small amount of space Creighton shooters need if the Bluejays are ready to shoot once the ball hits their hands.

Conference Opener Stats

Creighton is 18-11 overall in conference openers. The Bluejays records in each
conference are below.
- HCAC: 1-2
- WAC: 2-0
- MVC: 14-7
- BE: 1-2
Under Jim Flanery the Bluejays are 9-5 in conference openers. In the five times those openers have come at home, Flanery and the Bluejays are 2-3.
In home conference opening games (regardless if the game was the first game in conference play), the Bluejays are also 9-5 under Flanery.

Road Construction has Cleared
With a 72-50 win at Marist to close out the non-conference season, the Bluejays got the monkey off their back with their first road win of the season. Creighton hopes now all roads to Milwaukee for the BIG EAST Tournament remain clear.

Bluejays Open BIG EAST Play at Home, Again
Entering their fourth season as members of the BIG EAST, Creighton opens conference play at home for the fourth consecutive season. The Bluejays took the BIG EAST opener from Villanova (65-63 in overtime) in 2013-14, but fell to Seton Hall (79-74) and St. John's (66-55) in the last two seasons.

Holiday Hangover, Not Under Flanery
In Jim Flanery's first 14 seasons, the Bluejays are 10-4 following the holiday break. Creighton has posted six double-digit wins during the stretch.

Women's Basketball Opens BIG EAST Play Against Butler

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Players Mentioned

Brianna Rollerson

Women's Basketball Opens BIG EAST Play Against Butler

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Brianna Rollerson

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