Sunday, December 3
Omaha, Neb.
1:00 PM
Creighton University
vs
Northern Iowa
Photo by: Justin Kreutzian
Bluejay Women's Basketball Hosts Northern Iowa on Sunday
12/1/2023 1:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Omaha, Neb. -- After a successful trip to Mexico that produced a pair of victories, the Creighton Women's Basketball team returns home to renew a rivalry with its former Missouri Valley Conference foe Northern Iowa on Sunday, December 3 at 1:00 p.m.
Scouting Northern Iowa (1-5)
The Panthers head to Omaha with a record of 1-5 record overall on the young season, their sole win coming in their first game against Green Bay, 78-67. Â
Leading the charge offensively is forward Grace Boffeli, who has posted a .476 field goal percentage and scored an average of 13.7 points per game. Guard Maya McDermott has also tallied a team-high 19 assists, scoring an average of 9.2 points per game.
Defensively, Panthers' sophomore forward Ryley Goebel leads the UNI roster with an average of 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game.
Series with Northern Iowa (Creighton leads 41-20)
The Bluejays and Panthers have met 61 times, with Creighton holding the series lead 41-20. The two teams have met 27 times in Omaha where Creighton has won 24 of the battles.
In the two teams' last meeting in the 2022-23 season, the Bluejays delivering a commanding 85-66 win at the Panthers' home with the help of Emma Ronsiek's dominant 23-point performance.Â
Scouting Creighton (5-1)
The first quarter of each of the Bluejays' opening six contests has been pivotal. In Creighton's five victories, the Bluejays have held at least a five point edge, while in the lone loss the Bluejays trailed 22-9.
The Bluejays are led by the trio of Lauren Jensen (19.5 ppg), Morgan Maly (17.5) and Emma Ronsiek (15.0 ppg). The trio are also each averaging over 31 minutes per game.
Traditionally a strong three-point shooting team, the Bluejays are slightly off at 31.1 percent through six games
(46-of-148). What has allowed Creighton to remain successful is a commitment to defend. The Bluejays have held their first six opponents to at least six points below their respective season average.
Keys To the Game on December 3 (Northern Iowa)
Lauren Jensen's Cancun Scoring Streak Yields BIG EAST Player of the Week Accolades
Behind a career-high 32-point effort in Creighton's 83-69 win over Michigan State and 16-point performance against Georgia Tech, senior Lauren Jensen claimed Creighton's first BIG EAST Player of the Week honor since 2021. Jensen averaged 24.0 points per game to garner the Cancun Challenge Riviera Division MVP, leading the Bluejays to victories over Georgia Tech and Michigan State during Creighton's stay in Cancun. The last time a Bluejay earned the BIG EAST's top weekly honor was Emma Ronsiek on Feb. 21, 2021. Ronsiek won the award twice that season.
Flanery versus Warren
Tanya Warren was not only one of two women's basketball players with her jersey hanging in the rafters, the other being Connie Yori, she also was apart of Jim Flanery's first staff. Warren was on the Bluejay bench with Flanery for three seasons from 2004-05 to 2006-07. Since she took over Northern Iowa at the onset of the 2007-08 campaign, Creighton and UNI have faced off 24 times. Flanery and the Bluejays hold 16 wins to eight losses.
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Veteran Scoring Duo Lauren Jensen and Morgan Maly Receive All-Tournament Team Â
Seniors Lauren Jensen and Morgan Maly were named to the All-Tournament team following after Cancun Tournament play came to a close. Jensen collected the MVP nod, averaging 24 ppg in the two games. She guided Creighton to an 83-69 win over Michigan State with a career-high 32 points, while Maly delivered 26 in the win over the Spartans.
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Flanery Notches Two More Teams
Coaching in his 670th game at the helm for Creighton on Sunday, December 3, head coach Jim Flanery has a record of 606-263.
During his 22 seasons leading the Bluejays, Flanery has defeated 79 unique opponents, adding Georgia Tech and Michigan State to his list in Cancun.
Flanery's most victories (22) have come against Northern Iowa.
Bluejays Cancun Record Remains Spotless
Head coach Jim Flanery brought his Bluejay squad to Cancun twice before, coming to the Caribbean Challenge in 2012 and again in 2019. Â
In 2019 the Bluejays participated in a four-team tournament, defeating Miami (OH) 66-57 in the opening game on Dec. 21, then besting South Florida (RV) 91-74 on Dec. 22. During the win over the Bulls, the Bluejays equaled a then program-record with 16 treys. Creighton did not face the fourth team, Nevada, in the tournament but as the lone undefeated squad the Bluejays captured the tournament championship.
During the 2019-20 season the Bluejays bested #23 West Virginia 82-75, then defeated Temple 69-59.
In the 2023-24 season, the Bluejays' three-year record in Cancun remained perfect at 6-0. Creighton defeated Georgia Tech 57-46 before dominating against Michigan 83-69 thanks to a combined 58-point performance from Morgan Maly and Lauren Jensen.
2012 (2-0)
Creighton 66, Miami (OH) 57
Creighton 91, (RV) South Florida 74
2019 (2-0)
Creighton 82, #23 West Virginia 75
Creighton 69, Temple 59
2023 (2-0)
Creighton 57, Georgia Tech 46
Creighton 83, Michigan State 69
Importance of a Good Start
The first six games of the 2023-24 season have been dictated by the opening quarter.
Game 1: Led North Dakota State 16-4, won 75-52
Game 2: Led South Dakota 29-14, won 81-55
Game 3: Trailed Green Bay 22-9, lost 65-53
Game 4: Led Nebraska 28-23, won 79-74
Game 5: Led Georgia Tech 19-8, won 57-46
Game 6: Led Michigan State 24-18, won 83-69
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12/3: - 1:00 p.m.
Norther Iowa (1-4) vs. Creighton (5-1)
Twitter: @GoCreighton, @CreightonWBB
Live Stream (FloHoops/YurView) https://www.flohoops.com/live/86226
Radio (1180 AM): https://player.listenlive.co/52381
Stats: https://www.statbroadcast.com/events/statmonitr.php?gid=crei
Norther Iowa (1-4) vs. Creighton (5-1)
Twitter: @GoCreighton, @CreightonWBB
Live Stream (FloHoops/YurView) https://www.flohoops.com/live/86226
Radio (1180 AM): https://player.listenlive.co/52381
Stats: https://www.statbroadcast.com/events/statmonitr.php?gid=crei
About Northern Iowa
- Located in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
- Last season, the Panthers closed 2022-23 with a 23-10 record, their season-ending game coming with a 77-57 loss to the Nebraska in the second round of the WNIT.
- Entering her 17th year as Northern Iowa's head coach, Tanya Warren also heads into the matchup on Sunday as a former Bluejay herself.
- Warren played guard from 1983-88 in her time at Creighton and was inducted into the CU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996. Her No. 10 jersey is just one of two jerseys retired in school history.
Scouting Northern Iowa (1-5)
The Panthers head to Omaha with a record of 1-5 record overall on the young season, their sole win coming in their first game against Green Bay, 78-67. Â
Leading the charge offensively is forward Grace Boffeli, who has posted a .476 field goal percentage and scored an average of 13.7 points per game. Guard Maya McDermott has also tallied a team-high 19 assists, scoring an average of 9.2 points per game.
Defensively, Panthers' sophomore forward Ryley Goebel leads the UNI roster with an average of 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game.
Series with Northern Iowa (Creighton leads 41-20)
The Bluejays and Panthers have met 61 times, with Creighton holding the series lead 41-20. The two teams have met 27 times in Omaha where Creighton has won 24 of the battles.
In the two teams' last meeting in the 2022-23 season, the Bluejays delivering a commanding 85-66 win at the Panthers' home with the help of Emma Ronsiek's dominant 23-point performance.Â
Scouting Creighton (5-1)
The first quarter of each of the Bluejays' opening six contests has been pivotal. In Creighton's five victories, the Bluejays have held at least a five point edge, while in the lone loss the Bluejays trailed 22-9.
The Bluejays are led by the trio of Lauren Jensen (19.5 ppg), Morgan Maly (17.5) and Emma Ronsiek (15.0 ppg). The trio are also each averaging over 31 minutes per game.
Traditionally a strong three-point shooting team, the Bluejays are slightly off at 31.1 percent through six games
(46-of-148). What has allowed Creighton to remain successful is a commitment to defend. The Bluejays have held their first six opponents to at least six points below their respective season average.
Keys To the Game on December 3 (Northern Iowa)
- Discipline and Execution: Warren and Flanery have faced off every year and know each other very well. As such the game often comes down to which squad executes best.
- Fast Start: The opening quarter has foretold the outcome in each game thus far. With the Panthers coming off five consecutive losses getting behind early would be particularly challenging.
- Rebounding: Northern Iowa has been challenged on the glass this season, averaging 7.9 less boards than its opponents. Creighton, meanwhile, has a 4.2 rebound advantage per game.
Lauren Jensen's Cancun Scoring Streak Yields BIG EAST Player of the Week Accolades
Behind a career-high 32-point effort in Creighton's 83-69 win over Michigan State and 16-point performance against Georgia Tech, senior Lauren Jensen claimed Creighton's first BIG EAST Player of the Week honor since 2021. Jensen averaged 24.0 points per game to garner the Cancun Challenge Riviera Division MVP, leading the Bluejays to victories over Georgia Tech and Michigan State during Creighton's stay in Cancun. The last time a Bluejay earned the BIG EAST's top weekly honor was Emma Ronsiek on Feb. 21, 2021. Ronsiek won the award twice that season.
Flanery versus Warren
Tanya Warren was not only one of two women's basketball players with her jersey hanging in the rafters, the other being Connie Yori, she also was apart of Jim Flanery's first staff. Warren was on the Bluejay bench with Flanery for three seasons from 2004-05 to 2006-07. Since she took over Northern Iowa at the onset of the 2007-08 campaign, Creighton and UNI have faced off 24 times. Flanery and the Bluejays hold 16 wins to eight losses.
Â
Veteran Scoring Duo Lauren Jensen and Morgan Maly Receive All-Tournament Team Â
Seniors Lauren Jensen and Morgan Maly were named to the All-Tournament team following after Cancun Tournament play came to a close. Jensen collected the MVP nod, averaging 24 ppg in the two games. She guided Creighton to an 83-69 win over Michigan State with a career-high 32 points, while Maly delivered 26 in the win over the Spartans.
Â
Flanery Notches Two More Teams
Coaching in his 670th game at the helm for Creighton on Sunday, December 3, head coach Jim Flanery has a record of 606-263.
During his 22 seasons leading the Bluejays, Flanery has defeated 79 unique opponents, adding Georgia Tech and Michigan State to his list in Cancun.
Flanery's most victories (22) have come against Northern Iowa.
Bluejays Cancun Record Remains Spotless
Head coach Jim Flanery brought his Bluejay squad to Cancun twice before, coming to the Caribbean Challenge in 2012 and again in 2019. Â
In 2019 the Bluejays participated in a four-team tournament, defeating Miami (OH) 66-57 in the opening game on Dec. 21, then besting South Florida (RV) 91-74 on Dec. 22. During the win over the Bulls, the Bluejays equaled a then program-record with 16 treys. Creighton did not face the fourth team, Nevada, in the tournament but as the lone undefeated squad the Bluejays captured the tournament championship.
During the 2019-20 season the Bluejays bested #23 West Virginia 82-75, then defeated Temple 69-59.
In the 2023-24 season, the Bluejays' three-year record in Cancun remained perfect at 6-0. Creighton defeated Georgia Tech 57-46 before dominating against Michigan 83-69 thanks to a combined 58-point performance from Morgan Maly and Lauren Jensen.
2012 (2-0)
Creighton 66, Miami (OH) 57
Creighton 91, (RV) South Florida 74
2019 (2-0)
Creighton 82, #23 West Virginia 75
Creighton 69, Temple 59
2023 (2-0)
Creighton 57, Georgia Tech 46
Creighton 83, Michigan State 69
Importance of a Good Start
The first six games of the 2023-24 season have been dictated by the opening quarter.
Game 1: Led North Dakota State 16-4, won 75-52
Game 2: Led South Dakota 29-14, won 81-55
Game 3: Trailed Green Bay 22-9, lost 65-53
Game 4: Led Nebraska 28-23, won 79-74
Game 5: Led Georgia Tech 19-8, won 57-46
Game 6: Led Michigan State 24-18, won 83-69
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Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
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