Bluejay WBB Closes Out Weekend With Butler

Omaha, Neb. -- The Bluejay women's basketball team closes out the weekend by facing Butler on Sunday, February 13 at 1:00 pm in Creighton's annual Pink Game in D.J. Sokol Arena.

Download the complete preview (PDF).

2/13: - 1:00 pm (CT)
Butler (1-20, 0-12 BE) at Creighton (17-7, 12-4 BE)
Twitter: @CreightonWBB

BEDN/FloHoops: Jon Schriner and Rob Simms
https://www.flohoops.com/live/33573

Live Stats:
https://creighton.statbroadcast.com

Series with Butler: Bluejays Lead 11-8
Home: 4-3 Away: 4-5 Neutral: 3-0
Creighton and Butler have battled back and forth evenly during the regular season splitting 16 meetings. The three meetings in the BIG EAST Tournament give the Bluejays the series edge as Creighton has swept Butler in the postseason.

Series Game-by-Game
Date   Opponent   Score
1/18/14   at Butler   L, 52-58
3/4/14   Butler   L, 59-67
3/9/14   @ ª vs. Butler   W, 61-52
1/4/15   at Butler   L, 58-63
2/1/15   Butler   W, 62-55
1/10/16   Butler   W, 77-49
2/5/16   at Butler   W, 52-42
12/28/16   Butler   W, 67-52
2/26/17   at Butler   W, 65-53
3/5/17   # ª vs. Butler   W, 64-55
1/9/18   at Butler   L, 53-59
2/18/18   Butler   W, 64-55
1/20/19   Butler   L, 43-75
2/15/19   at Butler   L, 46-66
3/10/19   $ ª vs. Butler   W, 60-51
1/26/20   Butler   L, 67-73
2/21/20   at Butler   L, 61-76
12/6/20   at Butler   W, 88-41
1/19/22   at Butler   W, 95-44
ª - BIG EAST Tournament game
@ = played in Rosemont, Ill.
# = played in Milwaukee, Wis.
$ = played in Chicago, Ill.
ª = BIG EAST Tournament game

Scouting Butler (1-20, 0-12 BIG EAST)
Butler comes to Omaha still seeking its first BIG EAST win of the season. The Bulldogs have dropped 10 straight games, but have shown improvement. Butler fell by just 11 in each of its last two outings, the nearest margin in BIG EAST games this season.

Celena Taborn is a force to reckon with in the middle, averaging 13.6 ppg and shooting 69.4% from the field.

Defensively Butler is allowing better than 79 ppg (79.1). The Bulldogs are allowing 38 rebounds per contest, but have also committed 420 turnovers in 21 games (20 per games)

Scouting Creighton (17-7, 12-4 BE)
Creighton got a little extra rest this week, but that may have resulted in the Bluejays sluggish first half against Xavier. The Bluejays pulled themselves together to notch 21 assists and 12 treys.

Three Bluejays are averaging double figures, led by Emma Ronsiek (14.1 ppg). Just a step back are fellow sophomores Lauren Jensen (11.8 ppg) and Morgan Maly (11.5 ppg).

Creighton's biggest strength is their ability to share the basketball. The Bluejays lead the NCAA with 20.0 assist per game and rank in the top-ten in assists as well as assist-to-turnover ratio.

Keys To the Game on Sunday, Feb. 13

Fast Start: Butler enters Sunday's game with a nothing to lose. This increases the importance of a fast start for Creighton. The longer Butler stays in the game, the more pressure builds on Creighton.
Taking Advantage of Turnovers: Butler took of the basketball better than usual in the first meeting with just 14 turnovers. Creighton should punish the Bulldogs for careless mistakes.
Taborn: Butler has a slight advantage in the middle in Taborn, however Creighton limited her to just six shots (3-of-6) in the first meeting.

Players to Watch for Creighton: Carly Bachelor, Emma Ronsiek and Morgan Maly

The trio combined for 50 points in the first meeting, outscoring the Bulldogs 50-44. This is also the players most responsible for limiting Taborn.

2022 Creighton vs. Cancer Pink Out
When Creighton hosts Butler on Sunday, February 13th in its Annual Pink Out game. Bluejay players will wear pink shooting shirts and pink jerseys for the game.

Fans had the opportunity to honor a friend or family member who has battled cancer or is currently battling cancer by purchasing the apparel via auction (the shooting shirt can be personalized – last name, nickname, etc.).

This year's auction closed on Sunday, February 6th. All funds raised go to benefit Hope Lodge Omaha. The American Cancer Society Hope Lodge Nebraska provides a free home away from home for cancer patients and their caregivers who must travel to Omaha to receive their
lifesaving treatment. More than just a roof over their heads, it's a nurturing community that helps patients access the care they need.

The Creighton University Women's Basketball Pink Out game has raised over $23,000 benefiting the Hope Lodge facility here in Omaha and the guests it serves over the past five games.

Summary
2022: 12 items - $3,551.50
2020: 14 items - $3,924.50
2019: 15 items - $5,282.00
2018: 16 items - $5,395.50
2017: 18 items - $5,271.00

Bluejays Take Off In Second Half
The Bluejays' 68-47 win over Xavier on February 11, highlighted a season-long trend at home. Creighton went 2-8 (25%) from beyond the arc in the first half against Xavier, when shooting in front of the opposing bench. The Bluejays knocked down 10-of-18 (55.6%) from long range in front of their own bench in the second half.

Looking across the home season the Bluejays are 51-of-149 (34.2%) from long range in the first half. While in the second half of contests Creighton is 70-of-166 (42.2%).

While Creighton as a whole prefers to shoot in front of their bench, sophomore Lauren Jensen offers the largest impact. In the first half of home games Jensen is 13-of-34 (38.2%) from the three-point line, but in the second half she is 20-of-33 (60.6%).

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Players Mentioned

Carly Bachelor

Lauren Jensen

Morgan Maly

Emma Ronsiek