Friday, March 17
South Bend, Ind.
5:00 PM
Creighton University
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Mississippi State
Photo by: Creighton Athletics
Bluejay WBB Opens NCAA Tournament Against MIssissippi State
3/15/2023 10:34:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Omaha, Neb. -- The Creighton women's basketball team begins its 2022-23 NCAA Tournament on Friday, March 17 as the Bluejays face Mississippi State in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament on ESPN News at 5:00 p.m. (CT).
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Series with Mississippi State: First Meeting
If Mississippi State wins on Wednesday night, Friday's meeting with Creighton will be the first.
Scouting Mississippi State (21-10)
Similar to Illinois, Mississippi State got off to a strong start this season with victories in 12 of its first 14 games.
The Bulldogs come into the NCAA Tournament having dropped three of five games, but hold victories over Alabama and Arkansas down the stretch.
Jessika Carter leads Mississippi State with 14.8 ppg and 7.7 rpg. The second leading scorer is Jerkalia Jordan with 11.9 ppg and 5.1 rpg.
The Bulldogs are averaging 71.5 ppg, allowing 59.1 and have forced 514 turnovers in 30 contests (17.1 per game).
Common Opponents
The Bluejays and Bulldogs both faced Nebraska this season. Creighton beat the Huskers 77-51 at home on Nov. 15, while Mississippi State fell to Nebraska in overtime 73-65 on Nov. 26.
Scouting Creighton (22-8)
The Bluejays are playing their best basketball of the season. Creighton has won ten of their last 12 games, dropping two-point decisions at #6 Connecticut (62-60) and against #11 Villanova (63-61) in the BIG EAST Tournament Semifinals.
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Creighton's offense is guided by the trio of Lauren Jensen (15.9 ppg), Morgan Maly (15.0 ppg), and Emma Ronsiek (13.0 ppg).
While the Bluejays need offense from their Big Three, the key to Creighton's rise down the stretch was improvement on the defensive end. Over the final 12 contests the Bluejays held six opponents under 60 points, including 34 to Georgetown on Feb. 18.
Keys To the Game on Friday, March 17
Double-Digits Beyond the Big Three is Critical
While the trio of Jansen, Maly and Ronsiek average close to 45 ppg, when Creighton gets 10 or more from seniors Rachael Saunders, Carly Bachelor or junior Molly Mogensen the Bluejays play goes to another level.
Saunders has scored in double figures six times, this season and five times last year. Creighton is 10-1 in those contests.
Bachelor has reached double figures eight times in 2022-23, with Creighton going 7-1.
While Mogensen has also topped 10 or more points eight times with the Bluejays posting a 7-1 mark.
Creighton's Planting Flag as Basketball School
Both the Creighton Women's and Men's Basketball Programs claimed a No. 6 seed in the respective NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 12.
Creighton is one of six schools with both programs ranked 18 or higher in the NET.
The Bluejays are one of 26 schools to earn bids in both sports and one of just 11 schools to each earn at-large berths.
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No. 11 Mississippi State vs. No. 6 Creighton
3/17: - 5:00 p.m. (CT)
Twitter: @CreightonWBB
TV: ESPN News
Live Stats: https://creighton.statbroadcast.com
Radio: https://player.listenlive.co/52391
3/17: - 5:00 p.m. (CT)
Twitter: @CreightonWBB
TV: ESPN News
Live Stats: https://creighton.statbroadcast.com
Radio: https://player.listenlive.co/52391
Series with Mississippi State: First Meeting
If Mississippi State wins on Wednesday night, Friday's meeting with Creighton will be the first.
Scouting Mississippi State (21-10)
Similar to Illinois, Mississippi State got off to a strong start this season with victories in 12 of its first 14 games.
The Bulldogs come into the NCAA Tournament having dropped three of five games, but hold victories over Alabama and Arkansas down the stretch.
Jessika Carter leads Mississippi State with 14.8 ppg and 7.7 rpg. The second leading scorer is Jerkalia Jordan with 11.9 ppg and 5.1 rpg.
The Bulldogs are averaging 71.5 ppg, allowing 59.1 and have forced 514 turnovers in 30 contests (17.1 per game).
Common Opponents
The Bluejays and Bulldogs both faced Nebraska this season. Creighton beat the Huskers 77-51 at home on Nov. 15, while Mississippi State fell to Nebraska in overtime 73-65 on Nov. 26.
Scouting Creighton (22-8)
The Bluejays are playing their best basketball of the season. Creighton has won ten of their last 12 games, dropping two-point decisions at #6 Connecticut (62-60) and against #11 Villanova (63-61) in the BIG EAST Tournament Semifinals.
Â
Creighton's offense is guided by the trio of Lauren Jensen (15.9 ppg), Morgan Maly (15.0 ppg), and Emma Ronsiek (13.0 ppg).
While the Bluejays need offense from their Big Three, the key to Creighton's rise down the stretch was improvement on the defensive end. Over the final 12 contests the Bluejays held six opponents under 60 points, including 34 to Georgetown on Feb. 18.
Keys To the Game on Friday, March 17
- Ball Security: Mississippi State likes to create turnovers and turn them into easy offense.
- Getting Maly Going Early: Morgan Maly was 1-for-9 in the Bluejays loss to #11 Villanova, but had to defend one of the top scorers in the NCAA in Maddy Siegrist. Expect Morgan and Emma Ronsiek to get a few early touches on Friday.
- Rebounding: Despite being undersized, the Bluejays are 17-4 when they out-rebound their opponent.
Double-Digits Beyond the Big Three is Critical
While the trio of Jansen, Maly and Ronsiek average close to 45 ppg, when Creighton gets 10 or more from seniors Rachael Saunders, Carly Bachelor or junior Molly Mogensen the Bluejays play goes to another level.
Saunders has scored in double figures six times, this season and five times last year. Creighton is 10-1 in those contests.
Bachelor has reached double figures eight times in 2022-23, with Creighton going 7-1.
While Mogensen has also topped 10 or more points eight times with the Bluejays posting a 7-1 mark.
Creighton's Planting Flag as Basketball School
Both the Creighton Women's and Men's Basketball Programs claimed a No. 6 seed in the respective NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 12.
Creighton is one of six schools with both programs ranked 18 or higher in the NET.
The Bluejays are one of 26 schools to earn bids in both sports and one of just 11 schools to each earn at-large berths.
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