Thursday, November 20
Omaha, Neb.
6:00 PM
Creighton University
vs
Northern Iowa
Photo by: Creighton Athletics
Bluejay WBB Returns Home Against Northern Iowa on Thursday
11/18/2025 3:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Omaha, Neb. -- Bluejay transfer Grace Boffeli will face her old teammates as Creighton faces Northern Iowa on Thursday, November 20 in D.J. Sokol Arena at 6:00 p.m.
Â
Bluejays not Blue Jays:
Creighton's mascot is the Bluejays or Bluejay, one word. Conversely the MLB Toronto team is the Blue Jays.Â
Series with Northern Iowa (Creighton leads 43-20)
Home: 25-3 Away: 15-14 Neutral: 2-3
The Bluejays and Panthers have met 63 times, with Creighton holding the series lead 42-20. The two teams have met 28 times in Omaha, where Creighton has won 25 of the battles.Â
Date  Opponent  Score
2/3/87  at Northern Iowa  W, 82-75
12/5/87  Northern Iowa  W, 113-72
2/20/90  at Northern Iowa  L, 80-107
12/2/90  Northern Iowa  W, 93-58
12/20/91  at Northern Iowa  W, 87-61
1/25/93  at Northern Iowa  W, 90-66
2/4/93  Northern Iowa  W, 76-41
3/4/93  $ Northern Iowa  W, 86-73
1/29/94  at Northern Iowa  W, 81-68
2/24/94  Northern Iowa  W, 91-63
1/7/95  at Northern Iowa  W, 83-62
2/5/95  Northern Iowa  W, 83-68
1/11/96  Northern Iowa  W, 73-67
2/10/96  at Northern Iowa  L, 76-78
1/3/97  Northern Iowa  W, 73-68
1/30/97  at Northern Iowa  L, 71-75
12/28/97  Northern Iowa  W, 82-66
2/26/98  at Northern Iowa  L, 72-78
1/16/99  at Northern Iowa  L, 59-64
2/16/99  Northern Iowa  L, 55-66
2/22/00  at Northern Iowa  W, 78-72
3/2/00  Northern Iowa  W, 66-59
1/26/01  at Northern Iowa  L, 61-71
2/22/01  Northern Iowa  W, 78-64
1/17/02  at Northern Iowa  W, 59-51
2/15/02  Northern Iowa  W, 75-65
1/5/03  Northern Iowa  W, 86-65
3/8/03  at Northern Iowa  L, 55-63
1/25/04  Northern Iowa  W, 81-64
2/20/04  at Northern Iowa  W, 69-56
3/11/04  @ $ vs. Northern Iowa  L, 65-71
1/27/05  Northern Iowa  W, 78-73 (ot)
2/26/05  at Northern Iowa  L, 58-65
12/29/05  at Northern Iowa  W, 67-64 (ot)
3/4/06  Northern Iowa  W, 61-56
1/4/07  Northern Iowa  L, 53-56
2/3/07  at Northern Iowa  L, 72-78 (ot)
1/24/08  Northern Iowa  W, 71-63
2/21/08  at Northern Iowa  W, 69-51
1/23/09  Northern Iowa  W, 62-44
2/21/09  at Northern Iowa  W, 67-59 (ot)
1/24/10  Northern Iowa  W, 62-58
2/21/10  at Northern Iowa  L, 57-73
3/14/10  # $ vs. Northern Iowa  L, 53-54
1/13/11  Northern Iowa  L, 57-58
2/10/11  at Northern Iowa  L, 52-60
1/27/12  Northern Iowa  W, 65-50
2/24/12  at Northern Iowa  W, 74-48
3/9/12  # $ vs. Northern Iowa  W, 53-46
1/25/13  Northern Iowa  W, 54-40
2/21/13  at Northern Iowa  W, 73-66
12/8/14  at Northern Iowa  W, 58-56
12/22/15  Northern Iowa  W, 69-61
12/10/16  at Northern Iowa  L, 49-50
11/21/17  Northern Iowa  W, 89-78 (2ot)
11/20/18  at Northern Iowa  L, 55-65
12/8/19  Northern Iowa  W, 57-54
11/28/20  at Northern Iowa  L, 52-55
3/20/21  & vs Northern Iowa  L, 63-64
11/27/21  Northern Iowa  W, 79-72
11/20/22  at Northern Iowa  W, 85-66
12/3/23  Northern Iowa  W, 115-62
12/7/24  at Northern Iowa  W, 75-71
@ = played in Springfield, Mo.   # = played in St. Charles, Mo.
$ = MVC Tournament game   & = WNIT game (Rockford, Ill.)
Flanery versus Warren
Once a member of Jim Flanery's staff, Tanya Warren was on the Bluejay bench with Flanery for three seasons from 2004-05 to 2006-07.Â
Since she took over Northern Iowa at the onset of the 2007-08 campaign, Creighton and UNI have faced off 26 times. Flanery and the Bluejays hold 18 wins to eight losses.Â
Date  Opponent  Result
1/24/08  Northern Iowa  W, 71-63
2/21/08  at Northern Iowa  W, 69-51
1/23/09  Northern Iowa  W, 62-44
2/21/09  at Northern Iowa  W, 67-59 (ot)
1/24/10  Northern Iowa  W, 62-58
2/21/10  at Northern Iowa  L, 57-73
3/14/10  # $ vs. Northern Iowa  L, 53-54
1/13/11  Northern Iowa  L, 57-58
2/10/11  at Northern Iowa  L, 52-60
1/27/12  Northern Iowa  W, 65-50
2/24/12  at Northern Iowa  W, 74-48
3/9/12  # $ vs. Northern Iowa  W, 53-46
1/25/13  Northern Iowa  W, 54-40
2/21/13  at Northern Iowa  W, 73-66
12/8/14  at Northern Iowa  W, 58-56
12/22/15  Northern Iowa  W, 69-61
12/10/16  at Northern Iowa  L, 49-50
11/21/17  Northern Iowa  W, 89-78 (2ot)
11/20/18  at Northern Iowa  L, 55-65
12/8/19  Northern Iowa  W, 57-54
11/28/20  at Northern Iowa  L, 52-55
3/20/21  & vs Northern Iowa  L, 63-64
11/27/21  Northern Iowa  W, 79-72
11/20/22  at Northern Iowa  W, 85-66
12/3/23  Northern Iowa  W, 115-62
12/7/24  at Northern Iowa  W, 75-71
@ = played in Springfield, Mo.   # = played in St. Charles, Mo.
$ = MVC Tournament game   & = WNIT game (Rockford, Ill.)
About Northern Iowa
About Tanya Warren
Scouting Northern Iowa (0-3)
Northern Iowa continues to search for its first win of the season. After the Panthers let their second game of the year slip away in the fourth quarter to Saint Louis, Northern Iowa was bested by No. 21 Iowa at home, 74-41.
Northern Iowa scored the first points of the game and evened the score at six apiece before the Hawkeyes ran away with the game, holding a 35-15 lead at halftime.Â
Iowa didn't take its foot off the gas in the second half offensively, generating a 39-26 advantage. The home team, however,Â
managed to end the game by outscoring the Hawkeyes 15-14 in the fourth quarter.Â
Northern Iowa's offense was spearheaded by Bri Robinson, whose 15 point outing was paired with six rebounds. The junior guard was the only Panther to score in double figures.
Sophomore forward Elise Jaeger controlled the boards for both sides, snagging a game-high 10.Â
With the exception of scoring two points against the visiting Hawkeyes, Taryn Wharton has proven to be a consistent scorer. Before a 15 point performance against the Billikens, the senior guard recorded 10 points in the season opener against North Dakota State.
Scouting Creighton (1-2)
The Bluejays return home looking for their first D.J. Sokol win of the season against Northern Iowa.
Most recently, Creighton suffered an 84-50 loss to the Huskers on the road.
In the in-state rivalry matchup, the Bluejays shot 23.1% and 8.3% in the first two quarters before upping offensive efficiency to 50% and then 33.3% in the third and fourth quarters, respectively. The uptick in production, however, wasn't enough to get Creighton back into the game.
Ava Zediker's 14 points and five rebounds, paired with Elizabeth Gentry's 11 points and nine rebounds, front lined the Bluejay offense. Freshman Neleigh Gessert also added eight points on the night.Â
Zediker paces the Bluejays offensively early in the 2025-26 campaign, averaging 13 points per game. Veteran guard Kiani Lockett records an average 11.3 points per game, whileÂ
anchoring Creighton's assist game with 15 total.
Bluejays Freshmen Have Posted Double Figures in Each Game
While it is just three games, Creighton's record setting freshman class is delivering on the promise. Twice this season Ava Zediker has led Creighton in scoring with 17 against South Dakota State and 14 versus Nebraska. Meanwhile against Drake it was Neleigh Gessert dropping 17 on the Bulldogs.
The last class to deliver these type of contributions came in during the 2020-21 season. That year the tandem of Morgan Maly and Emma Ronsiek reached double figures in four straight.Â
Seton Hall 2/13/21 - 20 points - Maly
Georgetown 2/15/21 - 11 points - Maly
DePaul 2/20/21 -Â 10 points - Maly
Marquette 2/22/21 - 10 points - Ronsiek
Gentry Delivers First Double-Digit Effort
Sophomore Elizabeth Gentry set career-highs in points (11) and rebounds (9) as well as hitting her first three-pointer in Creighton's matchup with Nebraska on Nov. 12.
Bluejays' 25 Turnover Most Since 2011
The 25 turnovers in the loss at Nebraska on November 12, marked the most in a regulation game since 2011 when Creighton also committed 25 turnovers against Notre Dame on December 4, 2011. The last time the Bluejays had more turnovers came in overtime loss at Minnesota on December 30, 2012 with 26.Â
Neleigh Gessert Dispatches Drake Zone
After starting her Bluejay career 0-for-7 against South Dakota State (Nov. 3), Creighton freshman came into the game at Drake (Nov. 9) without fear and without hesitation.Â
Facing Drake's zone, a defense the Bulldogs often employ, Neleigh calmly knocked down 5-of-8 from long range in the first half. She closed the first half with 17 points, forcing Drake out of its zone defense.
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11/20: - 6:00 p.m.Â
Northern Iowa (0-3) at Creighton (1-2)Â
Twitter: @GoCreighton, @CreightonWBBÂ
Stats: http://statb.us/b/617074
Online Stream: ESPN+ - https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/d0fcacbb-7d80-4e65-9e16-fe49de5f1832
Â
Northern Iowa (0-3) at Creighton (1-2)Â
Twitter: @GoCreighton, @CreightonWBBÂ
Stats: http://statb.us/b/617074
Online Stream: ESPN+ - https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/d0fcacbb-7d80-4e65-9e16-fe49de5f1832
Bluejays not Blue Jays:
Creighton's mascot is the Bluejays or Bluejay, one word. Conversely the MLB Toronto team is the Blue Jays.Â
Series with Northern Iowa (Creighton leads 43-20)
Home: 25-3 Away: 15-14 Neutral: 2-3
The Bluejays and Panthers have met 63 times, with Creighton holding the series lead 42-20. The two teams have met 28 times in Omaha, where Creighton has won 25 of the battles.Â
Date  Opponent  Score
2/3/87  at Northern Iowa  W, 82-75
12/5/87  Northern Iowa  W, 113-72
2/20/90  at Northern Iowa  L, 80-107
12/2/90  Northern Iowa  W, 93-58
12/20/91  at Northern Iowa  W, 87-61
1/25/93  at Northern Iowa  W, 90-66
2/4/93  Northern Iowa  W, 76-41
3/4/93  $ Northern Iowa  W, 86-73
1/29/94  at Northern Iowa  W, 81-68
2/24/94  Northern Iowa  W, 91-63
1/7/95  at Northern Iowa  W, 83-62
2/5/95  Northern Iowa  W, 83-68
1/11/96  Northern Iowa  W, 73-67
2/10/96  at Northern Iowa  L, 76-78
1/3/97  Northern Iowa  W, 73-68
1/30/97  at Northern Iowa  L, 71-75
12/28/97  Northern Iowa  W, 82-66
2/26/98  at Northern Iowa  L, 72-78
1/16/99  at Northern Iowa  L, 59-64
2/16/99  Northern Iowa  L, 55-66
2/22/00  at Northern Iowa  W, 78-72
3/2/00  Northern Iowa  W, 66-59
1/26/01  at Northern Iowa  L, 61-71
2/22/01  Northern Iowa  W, 78-64
1/17/02  at Northern Iowa  W, 59-51
2/15/02  Northern Iowa  W, 75-65
1/5/03  Northern Iowa  W, 86-65
3/8/03  at Northern Iowa  L, 55-63
1/25/04  Northern Iowa  W, 81-64
2/20/04  at Northern Iowa  W, 69-56
3/11/04  @ $ vs. Northern Iowa  L, 65-71
1/27/05  Northern Iowa  W, 78-73 (ot)
2/26/05  at Northern Iowa  L, 58-65
12/29/05  at Northern Iowa  W, 67-64 (ot)
3/4/06  Northern Iowa  W, 61-56
1/4/07  Northern Iowa  L, 53-56
2/3/07  at Northern Iowa  L, 72-78 (ot)
1/24/08  Northern Iowa  W, 71-63
2/21/08  at Northern Iowa  W, 69-51
1/23/09  Northern Iowa  W, 62-44
2/21/09  at Northern Iowa  W, 67-59 (ot)
1/24/10  Northern Iowa  W, 62-58
2/21/10  at Northern Iowa  L, 57-73
3/14/10  # $ vs. Northern Iowa  L, 53-54
1/13/11  Northern Iowa  L, 57-58
2/10/11  at Northern Iowa  L, 52-60
1/27/12  Northern Iowa  W, 65-50
2/24/12  at Northern Iowa  W, 74-48
3/9/12  # $ vs. Northern Iowa  W, 53-46
1/25/13  Northern Iowa  W, 54-40
2/21/13  at Northern Iowa  W, 73-66
12/8/14  at Northern Iowa  W, 58-56
12/22/15  Northern Iowa  W, 69-61
12/10/16  at Northern Iowa  L, 49-50
11/21/17  Northern Iowa  W, 89-78 (2ot)
11/20/18  at Northern Iowa  L, 55-65
12/8/19  Northern Iowa  W, 57-54
11/28/20  at Northern Iowa  L, 52-55
3/20/21  & vs Northern Iowa  L, 63-64
11/27/21  Northern Iowa  W, 79-72
11/20/22  at Northern Iowa  W, 85-66
12/3/23  Northern Iowa  W, 115-62
12/7/24  at Northern Iowa  W, 75-71
@ = played in Springfield, Mo.   # = played in St. Charles, Mo.
$ = MVC Tournament game   & = WNIT game (Rockford, Ill.)
Flanery versus Warren
Once a member of Jim Flanery's staff, Tanya Warren was on the Bluejay bench with Flanery for three seasons from 2004-05 to 2006-07.Â
Since she took over Northern Iowa at the onset of the 2007-08 campaign, Creighton and UNI have faced off 26 times. Flanery and the Bluejays hold 18 wins to eight losses.Â
Date  Opponent  Result
1/24/08  Northern Iowa  W, 71-63
2/21/08  at Northern Iowa  W, 69-51
1/23/09  Northern Iowa  W, 62-44
2/21/09  at Northern Iowa  W, 67-59 (ot)
1/24/10  Northern Iowa  W, 62-58
2/21/10  at Northern Iowa  L, 57-73
3/14/10  # $ vs. Northern Iowa  L, 53-54
1/13/11  Northern Iowa  L, 57-58
2/10/11  at Northern Iowa  L, 52-60
1/27/12  Northern Iowa  W, 65-50
2/24/12  at Northern Iowa  W, 74-48
3/9/12  # $ vs. Northern Iowa  W, 53-46
1/25/13  Northern Iowa  W, 54-40
2/21/13  at Northern Iowa  W, 73-66
12/8/14  at Northern Iowa  W, 58-56
12/22/15  Northern Iowa  W, 69-61
12/10/16  at Northern Iowa  L, 49-50
11/21/17  Northern Iowa  W, 89-78 (2ot)
11/20/18  at Northern Iowa  L, 55-65
12/8/19  Northern Iowa  W, 57-54
11/28/20  at Northern Iowa  L, 52-55
3/20/21  & vs Northern Iowa  L, 63-64
11/27/21  Northern Iowa  W, 79-72
11/20/22  at Northern Iowa  W, 85-66
12/3/23  Northern Iowa  W, 115-62
12/7/24  at Northern Iowa  W, 75-71
@ = played in Springfield, Mo.   # = played in St. Charles, Mo.
$ = MVC Tournament game   & = WNIT game (Rockford, Ill.)
About Northern Iowa
- Located in Cedar Falls, Iowa.Â
- Last season, the Panthers closed 2024-25 with a 17-17 record, their season-ending game coming with a 83-71 loss to Florida in the first round of the WBIT.
About Tanya Warren
- Entering her 19th year as Northern Iowa's head coach, Tanya Warren also heads into the matchup on Saturday as a former Bluejay herself.Â
- 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.Â
- She enters the game on Thursday with a 339-247 record at UNI.
- Warren has guided the Panthers to three NCAA Tournaments, the last coming in 2017.
Scouting Northern Iowa (0-3)
Northern Iowa continues to search for its first win of the season. After the Panthers let their second game of the year slip away in the fourth quarter to Saint Louis, Northern Iowa was bested by No. 21 Iowa at home, 74-41.
Northern Iowa scored the first points of the game and evened the score at six apiece before the Hawkeyes ran away with the game, holding a 35-15 lead at halftime.Â
Iowa didn't take its foot off the gas in the second half offensively, generating a 39-26 advantage. The home team, however,Â
managed to end the game by outscoring the Hawkeyes 15-14 in the fourth quarter.Â
Northern Iowa's offense was spearheaded by Bri Robinson, whose 15 point outing was paired with six rebounds. The junior guard was the only Panther to score in double figures.
Sophomore forward Elise Jaeger controlled the boards for both sides, snagging a game-high 10.Â
With the exception of scoring two points against the visiting Hawkeyes, Taryn Wharton has proven to be a consistent scorer. Before a 15 point performance against the Billikens, the senior guard recorded 10 points in the season opener against North Dakota State.
Scouting Creighton (1-2)
The Bluejays return home looking for their first D.J. Sokol win of the season against Northern Iowa.
Most recently, Creighton suffered an 84-50 loss to the Huskers on the road.
In the in-state rivalry matchup, the Bluejays shot 23.1% and 8.3% in the first two quarters before upping offensive efficiency to 50% and then 33.3% in the third and fourth quarters, respectively. The uptick in production, however, wasn't enough to get Creighton back into the game.
Ava Zediker's 14 points and five rebounds, paired with Elizabeth Gentry's 11 points and nine rebounds, front lined the Bluejay offense. Freshman Neleigh Gessert also added eight points on the night.Â
Zediker paces the Bluejays offensively early in the 2025-26 campaign, averaging 13 points per game. Veteran guard Kiani Lockett records an average 11.3 points per game, whileÂ
anchoring Creighton's assist game with 15 total.
Bluejays Freshmen Have Posted Double Figures in Each Game
While it is just three games, Creighton's record setting freshman class is delivering on the promise. Twice this season Ava Zediker has led Creighton in scoring with 17 against South Dakota State and 14 versus Nebraska. Meanwhile against Drake it was Neleigh Gessert dropping 17 on the Bulldogs.
The last class to deliver these type of contributions came in during the 2020-21 season. That year the tandem of Morgan Maly and Emma Ronsiek reached double figures in four straight.Â
Seton Hall 2/13/21 - 20 points - Maly
Georgetown 2/15/21 - 11 points - Maly
DePaul 2/20/21 -Â 10 points - Maly
Marquette 2/22/21 - 10 points - Ronsiek
Gentry Delivers First Double-Digit Effort
Sophomore Elizabeth Gentry set career-highs in points (11) and rebounds (9) as well as hitting her first three-pointer in Creighton's matchup with Nebraska on Nov. 12.
Bluejays' 25 Turnover Most Since 2011
The 25 turnovers in the loss at Nebraska on November 12, marked the most in a regulation game since 2011 when Creighton also committed 25 turnovers against Notre Dame on December 4, 2011. The last time the Bluejays had more turnovers came in overtime loss at Minnesota on December 30, 2012 with 26.Â
Neleigh Gessert Dispatches Drake Zone
After starting her Bluejay career 0-for-7 against South Dakota State (Nov. 3), Creighton freshman came into the game at Drake (Nov. 9) without fear and without hesitation.Â
Facing Drake's zone, a defense the Bulldogs often employ, Neleigh calmly knocked down 5-of-8 from long range in the first half. She closed the first half with 17 points, forcing Drake out of its zone defense.
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Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's BasketballCreighton Volleyball Media Availability - 11/18/25
Tuesday, November 18
Creighton Men's Basketball Media Availability - 11/17/25
Monday, November 17
#12 Creighton Volleyball Highlights at Seton Hall - 11/15/25
Saturday, November 15
Creighton Men's Basketball vs. UMES Press Conference - 11/14/25
Saturday, November 15
