Friday, November 25
Cincinnati, Ohio
11:00 AM
Creighton University
at
Xavier
Photo by: Steve Branscombe
Women's Basketball Begins BIG EAST Action at Xavier
11/25/2022 2:37:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Cincinnati, Ohio -- The 16th ranked Creighton Women's Basketball squad begins BIG EAST play in a Black Friday Special at Xavier at 11:00 a.m.
Series with Omaha: Bluejays Lead 15-2
Creighton enter the BIG EAST opener at Xavier with a 15-2 series edge over the Musketeers, including 11 in a row. The Bluejays' two losses, however, have come in Cincinnati. In addition two of the last four games at Xavier have been Bluejays victories by three points or less.
Xavier (Creighton leads 15-2)
Home: 8-0 Away: 7-2 Neutral: 0-0
Date   Opponent   Score
1/15/14   Xavier   W, 79-50
2/18/14   at Xavier   W, 70-61
1/2/15   at Xavier   L, 65-66
1/30/15   Xavier   W, 74-65
1/8/16   Xavier   W, 74-47
2/7/16   at Xavier   L, 55-57
12/30/16   Xavier   W, 63-52
2/24/17   at Xavier   W, 67-57
1/22/18   at Xavier   W, 71-64 (ot)
2/16/18   Xavier   W, 65-54
1/18/19   Xavier   W, 66-62 (ot)
2/17/19   at Xavier   W, 53-52
1/24/20   Xavier   W, 62-55
2/23/20   at Xavier   W, 76-62
1/3/21   at Xavier   W, 53-50
1/2/22   at Xavier   W, 67-51
2/11/22   Xavier   W, 62-47
Flanery vs. Xavier
Flanery is 15-2 against Xavier, coaching each Creighton meeting with the Musketeers
About Xavier
Scouting Xavier (5-0)
Loaded with fresh faces this season, the Musketeers are off to a hot start. Xavier has not only won its first five games, the Musketeers have done so in impressive fashion with five double-digit victories.
Junior Mackayla Scarlett and grad transfer Taylor Smith lead the way for the Xavier offense. The duo are averaging 15.2 ppg and 11.8 ppg respectively and have grabbed 21 steals in five games.
On the glass the Musketeers are averaging just under 41 rebounds per game (40.8 rpg). Courtney Prenger leads the team with 34 rebounds.
Scouting Creighton (5-0)
The Bluejays' impressive start to the 2022-23 season continued on November 22 as Creighton bested crosstown rival Omaha, 93-71.
Junior Emma Ronsiek remained hot with 26 points against the Mavericks, her second straight 20+ point contest.
Creighton is shooting 49.2% from the field in three games, led Molly Mogensen's 57.9% (22-of-38) and Carly Bachelor's 56.1% (23-of-41).
If there is an area of concern for Creighton, it has been a difficulty to stop dribble penetration. The addition of freshman Kiani Lockett to the rotation could be an answer as she gives Creighton another defender with tremendous quickness.
Keys To the Game on Friday, November 25
Player to Watch for Creighton
Lauren Jensen: Jensen led Creighton in both victories over Xavier last season, averaging 16.0 ppg. She is a much more explosive player and carries a bigger scoring load for the Bluejays.
Road Warriors
The game at Xavier on Nov. 22 will be Creighton's fifth road game of the season. Seven of the Bluejays' eight first contests are on the road (Head coach Jim Flanery builds the schedule himself).
Entering the Cintas Center, Creighton is tied for the nation's lead with four road wins. The only other team to have four victories is also 4-0 to start the 2022-23 season, the defending national champion South Carolina Gamecocks.
BIG EAST Openers vs. Conference Openers
Creighton is 7-2 in opening games as a member of the BIG EAST Conference, while the Bluejays are 23-12 overall in conference openers. Under head coach Jim Flanery, Creighton is 14-6 in its conference opener.
Friday's game will mark earliest conference game Creighton played as a member of the BIG EAST.
BIG EAST Opening Games
2013-14:   Dec. 28 vs. Villanova   W, 65-58
2014-15:   Dec. 3 vs. Seton Hall   L, 74-79
2015-16:   Dec. 29 vs. St. John's   L, 55-66
2016-17:   Dec. 28 vs. Butler   W, 67-52
2017-18:   Dec. 28 vs. #18 Villanova   W, 69-54
2018-19:   Dec. 29 at #19 DePaul   W, 85-82
2019-20:   Dec. 29 at Georgetown   W, 65-56
2020-21:   Dec. 6 at Butler   W, 88-41
2021-22:   Dec. 3 vs. Georgetown   W, 64-38
We Can Laugh About it Now
Although Friday will be the first time the Bluejays and Musketeers officially open BIG EAST play against each other, the two squads tried to do so during the 2020-21 season. On December 20, 2020 the Bluejays came to the Cintas Center for the BIG EAST opener, but the game was rescheduled due to Covid concerns.
Rebooting 20-20 Club
In the 93-71 win over Omaha on Nov. 22, Emma Ronsiek and Lauren Jensen posted 26 and 20 points respectively. The last time the Bluejays had a pair finish with at least 20 points was on March 6, 2021 in the BIG EAST Tournament as the Bluejays upset Seton Hall, 83-76. In that victory Temi Carda and Ronsiek had 29 and 20 points.
The win over the Mavericks also saw Morgan Maly finish with 18 points. The last time three Bluejays had 20 or more points in one game was in a four overtime 108-100 win at Drake on Dec. 3, 2017. The three players were Audrey Faber (34), Sydney Lamberty (21) and Jaylyn Agnew (20).
Unsung Heroes
Head coach Jim Flanery will be the first to expound on how critical juniors Mallory Brake and Jayme Horan have been to the Bluejays success in 2022. Brake and Horan have each delivered critical plays in the opening five games of the season, be it a block to ignite a rally or a critical trey to do the same.
Â
#16 Creighton (5-0) at Xavier (5-0)
11/25: - 11:00 a.m.
Twitter: @CreightonWBB
BIG EAST Digital Network: https://www.flohoops.com/live/46933
Live Stats: https://goxavier.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
11/25: - 11:00 a.m.
Twitter: @CreightonWBB
BIG EAST Digital Network: https://www.flohoops.com/live/46933
Live Stats: https://goxavier.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
Series with Omaha: Bluejays Lead 15-2
Creighton enter the BIG EAST opener at Xavier with a 15-2 series edge over the Musketeers, including 11 in a row. The Bluejays' two losses, however, have come in Cincinnati. In addition two of the last four games at Xavier have been Bluejays victories by three points or less.
Xavier (Creighton leads 15-2)
Home: 8-0 Away: 7-2 Neutral: 0-0
Date   Opponent   Score
1/15/14   Xavier   W, 79-50
2/18/14   at Xavier   W, 70-61
1/2/15   at Xavier   L, 65-66
1/30/15   Xavier   W, 74-65
1/8/16   Xavier   W, 74-47
2/7/16   at Xavier   L, 55-57
12/30/16   Xavier   W, 63-52
2/24/17   at Xavier   W, 67-57
1/22/18   at Xavier   W, 71-64 (ot)
2/16/18   Xavier   W, 65-54
1/18/19   Xavier   W, 66-62 (ot)
2/17/19   at Xavier   W, 53-52
1/24/20   Xavier   W, 62-55
2/23/20   at Xavier   W, 76-62
1/3/21   at Xavier   W, 53-50
1/2/22   at Xavier   W, 67-51
2/11/22   Xavier   W, 62-47
Flanery vs. Xavier
Flanery is 15-2 against Xavier, coaching each Creighton meeting with the Musketeers
About Xavier
- Despite going 9-21 and 4-16 in the BIG EAST last season, the Musketeers were picked to finish 11th in the BIG EAST preseason poll.
- In her fifth season at the helm for Xavier, head coach Melanie Moore and her squad seemed to have used the poll as motivation with the Musketeers entering the battle with Creighton at 5-0.
Scouting Xavier (5-0)
Loaded with fresh faces this season, the Musketeers are off to a hot start. Xavier has not only won its first five games, the Musketeers have done so in impressive fashion with five double-digit victories.
Junior Mackayla Scarlett and grad transfer Taylor Smith lead the way for the Xavier offense. The duo are averaging 15.2 ppg and 11.8 ppg respectively and have grabbed 21 steals in five games.
On the glass the Musketeers are averaging just under 41 rebounds per game (40.8 rpg). Courtney Prenger leads the team with 34 rebounds.
Scouting Creighton (5-0)
The Bluejays' impressive start to the 2022-23 season continued on November 22 as Creighton bested crosstown rival Omaha, 93-71.
Junior Emma Ronsiek remained hot with 26 points against the Mavericks, her second straight 20+ point contest.
Creighton is shooting 49.2% from the field in three games, led Molly Mogensen's 57.9% (22-of-38) and Carly Bachelor's 56.1% (23-of-41).
If there is an area of concern for Creighton, it has been a difficulty to stop dribble penetration. The addition of freshman Kiani Lockett to the rotation could be an answer as she gives Creighton another defender with tremendous quickness.
Keys To the Game on Friday, November 25
- Cleaning the Glass: Xavier has been excellent on the boards this season, averaging over 40 per game. Included in the Musketeers 204 rebounds are 64 offensive rebounds (12.8 per game).
- Shooting Touch: With the Bluejays shooting 49.2% as a team and Xavier shooting 45.9% from the field, which team finds the range early will impact the outcome.
- Three-Point Contributions: The Bluejays have posted double-digit treys in their last two games, while Xavier has 32 this season. Can Creighton continue to dial long distance or will Xavier cut of the calling plan.
Player to Watch for Creighton
Lauren Jensen: Jensen led Creighton in both victories over Xavier last season, averaging 16.0 ppg. She is a much more explosive player and carries a bigger scoring load for the Bluejays.
Road Warriors
The game at Xavier on Nov. 22 will be Creighton's fifth road game of the season. Seven of the Bluejays' eight first contests are on the road (Head coach Jim Flanery builds the schedule himself).
Entering the Cintas Center, Creighton is tied for the nation's lead with four road wins. The only other team to have four victories is also 4-0 to start the 2022-23 season, the defending national champion South Carolina Gamecocks.
BIG EAST Openers vs. Conference Openers
Creighton is 7-2 in opening games as a member of the BIG EAST Conference, while the Bluejays are 23-12 overall in conference openers. Under head coach Jim Flanery, Creighton is 14-6 in its conference opener.
Friday's game will mark earliest conference game Creighton played as a member of the BIG EAST.
BIG EAST Opening Games
2013-14:   Dec. 28 vs. Villanova   W, 65-58
2014-15:   Dec. 3 vs. Seton Hall   L, 74-79
2015-16:   Dec. 29 vs. St. John's   L, 55-66
2016-17:   Dec. 28 vs. Butler   W, 67-52
2017-18:   Dec. 28 vs. #18 Villanova   W, 69-54
2018-19:   Dec. 29 at #19 DePaul   W, 85-82
2019-20:   Dec. 29 at Georgetown   W, 65-56
2020-21:   Dec. 6 at Butler   W, 88-41
2021-22:   Dec. 3 vs. Georgetown   W, 64-38
We Can Laugh About it Now
Although Friday will be the first time the Bluejays and Musketeers officially open BIG EAST play against each other, the two squads tried to do so during the 2020-21 season. On December 20, 2020 the Bluejays came to the Cintas Center for the BIG EAST opener, but the game was rescheduled due to Covid concerns.
Rebooting 20-20 Club
In the 93-71 win over Omaha on Nov. 22, Emma Ronsiek and Lauren Jensen posted 26 and 20 points respectively. The last time the Bluejays had a pair finish with at least 20 points was on March 6, 2021 in the BIG EAST Tournament as the Bluejays upset Seton Hall, 83-76. In that victory Temi Carda and Ronsiek had 29 and 20 points.
The win over the Mavericks also saw Morgan Maly finish with 18 points. The last time three Bluejays had 20 or more points in one game was in a four overtime 108-100 win at Drake on Dec. 3, 2017. The three players were Audrey Faber (34), Sydney Lamberty (21) and Jaylyn Agnew (20).
Unsung Heroes
Head coach Jim Flanery will be the first to expound on how critical juniors Mallory Brake and Jayme Horan have been to the Bluejays success in 2022. Brake and Horan have each delivered critical plays in the opening five games of the season, be it a block to ignite a rally or a critical trey to do the same.
Â
Players Mentioned
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballCreighton VB Postgame Press Conference vs Butler 9/27/25
Sunday, September 28
Butler at #16 Creighton Volleyball Highlights - 9/27/25
Sunday, September 28
Creighton Women's Soccer Postgame vs. Marquette, 9/27/25
Sunday, September 28
Creighton Women's Soccer Highlights vs. Marquette, 9/27/25
Sunday, September 28
