Bluejay WBB Hosts Xavier in Friday Night Tussle

Omaha, Neb. -- After each squad posted victories in their conference opener on Wednesday, Creighton hosts Xavier on Friday night.

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12/30: - 7:00 pm - Xavier (9-3, 1-0 BIG EAST) at Creighton (7-4, 1-0 BIG EAST)

Series History: Creighton leads Xavier, 4-2

Stats (Free): creighton.statbroadcast.com

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

Bird Seeds

Both the Bluejays and Musketeers earned comeback victories in their respective BIG EAST openers on Wednesday. Xavier overcame a 14-point second half deficit to defeat Providence, 54-51. The Bluejays, meanwhile, did not lead until midway through the third period before disposing of Butler, 67-52.
The Bluejays hold a 4-2 series edge on Xavier, taking each of the three meetings in Omaha.
Xavier opened the season with six straight victories, but have dropped three of their last six contests.
Creighton is 5-0 at home this season, with an average margin of victory of over 18 points.
Xavier is 6-0 at home, but just 3-3 away from the Cintas Center.
Maddison Blackwell has been a thorn in Creighton's side over the past three seasons, the senior has a combined 50 points in six meetings with the Bluejays including a
critical three in the final minute of the Musketeers win over Creighton in Cincinnati in the 2014-15 season.
Four different Bluejays average double figures against Xavier, Janning (18.5), Faber (16), Lamberty (10.5) and Rollerson (10.4).
Creighton is in the midst of its second three-game win streak of the season, the last one was broken up at Northern Iowa. The Bluejays have won six of their last seven games.

Xavier vs. Creighton Series:
The Bluejays own a 4-2 edge on Xavier. The two teams first meeting came during the 2013-14 season when both squads joined the BIG EAST.

That season Creighton won both regular season matchups. Since the two teams have split the season series, with each claiming the contest on its home floor. The Bluejays are 3-0 against Xavier in Omaha.

About Xavier

Located in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Xavier head coach Brian Neal is in his 4th season at the helm for the Musketeers. He has a career record of 223-85 and a 52-54 record at Xavier.

Scouting Xavier (9-3, 1-0 BIG EAST)

Xavier opened the season with six straight victories, including an impressive 61-58 win over Michigan on Dec. 5.
The Musketeers are a perfect 6-0 at home, but at just 3-3 away from the Cintas Center.
Xavier is led by 176 points (14.7 ppg) from Raeschaun Gaffney. A transfer from Virginia, Gaffney is in her second season at Xavier. Last year the Bluejays held her to four and 12 points in their two meetings.

Keys to the Game w/Xavier

Rebounding & Second chance points: Xavier secured the victory at Providence with three offensive rebounds on one possession in the final minute. In the Musketeers three losses they've allowed 59 (19.7) offensive rebounds, in the nine victories that number is 78 (8.7).
Outside shooting: Both the Bluejays and Musketeers like to shoot the three, the team that is more efficient from long range will have the edge.
Keeping Xavier off the foul line: In both meetings last season the Musketeers held a double-digit edge in free throws. The Bluejays must move better defensively to avoid sending Xavier to the line.

Reject City: Bluejays Swat Away Program Record 15 Blocks Against Butler
En route to their 67-52 win over Butler on Dec. 28, the Bluejays may have earned a new moniker. Reject City! Creighton swatted away 15 blocks in the victory, led by four from senior Brianna Rollerson and freshman Jaylyn Agnew. The previous record was 12, done against Missouri State (Feb. 27. 2011) and versus Western Illinois (Jan. 4, 1993).

Consider that the Los Angeles Clippers became known as Lob City for the frequency of dunks, while the Portland Trail Blazers became Rip City in the 70s via an improbably comeback win over the Lakers.

Footnote in Connecticut's 84-Game Streak
The two-time defending national champion Connecticut Huskies are in the midst of an 84-game winning streak that began against Creighton on Nov. 23, 2014.

Bluejay Defense Holds Butler To Just Four Points in the Third
The turning point in the win over Butler was a 16-4 third period for the Bluejays. The paltry output by the Bulldogs, however, was not the smallest amount Creighton has limited an opponent to in one period. That distinction remains with the Mavericks of Nebraska Omaha as UNO managed just three points in the first quarter of the Bluejays 69-46 win on Dec. 20, 2015.

Since women's basketball moved to quarters prior to the 2015-16 season, the Bluejays have limited opponents to single digits 19 times. Creighton has also been held to nine or less 19 times. The Bluejays smallest output is four points against Villanova (1st - 1/29/16) and DePaul (3rd - 2/21/16)

Pts   Opponent            Qtr   Date
3   Nebraska-Omaha   1   12/20/15
4   Butler                       3   12/28/16
4   Xavier                      1   1/8/16
5   at Butler                   1   2/5/16
5   Wichita State           3   11/13/15

Fewest Turnovers of the Season
Creighton's eight turnovers in the win over Butler (Dec. 28) was the lowest number of the season. Perennially among the top-10 in fewest turnovers, the Bluejays committed just four turnovers against the Bulldogs last season in Omaha (1/10/16) which was also a season-low.

Ever Growing Bench Mob Adds McGrory
Sadly the Bluejays Bench Mob officially added another member as senior MC McGrory announced prior to the game with Butler that she will not play again. McGrory suffered a concussion while taking a charge against Nebraska in the Bluejays' 80-64 win over the Huskers on Dec. 18. The play happened in the later portion of the fourth period. McGrory suffered multiple concussions as a Bluejay as well as several in high school.

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Players Mentioned

Jaylyn Agnew

MC McGrory

Brianna Rollerson