Saturday, March 22
Austin, Texas
6:15 PM
Creighton University
26-7,16-2Big East
57
vs
66
Illinois
22-9,11-7Big Ten
1
2
3
4
F
Creighton
10
16
15
16
57
Illinois
18
13
16
19
66
Photo by: Joey Kurtz
Women's Basketball Comes to Close with 66-57 Loss to Illinois in NCAA First Round
3/22/2025 10:03:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Austin, Texas --Â The historic run of Creighton's 2024-25 senior class came to a close in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament as the Bluejays fell to Illinois 66-57 on Saturday, March 22.
The game itself saw Illinois capture an 18-10 advantage after one quarter and fend off each attempt by the Bluejays to extend their run. After shooting just 22.2% in the opening frame, the Bluejays found their footing as Creighton closed within five at the half, racing into the locker room after a trey from junior Kiani Lockett.
In the third quarter the game got as close as two points at 35-33 (7:13) and again at 41-39 (3:57) on a three-pointer from junior Kennedy Townsend. Illinois, however, responded with five consecutive points and held Creighton at arm's length the rest of the way.
Although the loss ended Creighton's season with a 26-7 record, the contributions of the departing senior class have forever altered the trajectory of the Bluejay Women's Basketball landscape. The quintet of Mallory Brake, Jayme Horan, Lauren Jensen, Molly Mogensen and Morgan Maly took the program from a 10-12 Covid Season of 2020-21 to a legacy of four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (a program record). Along the way setting a new standard that took the Bluejay program to its first Elite Eight, within moments a second trip to the Sweet 16 in 2024. Elevating a program, however, is about more than simply celebrating victories, it is also about setting the standard of expectations. Moving forward NCAA Tournaments are the expectation, rather than the occasional highlight.
The individual accomplishments have been recorded and acknowledged, but the redefining of the Creighton program is the true legacy of this team.
The game itself saw Illinois capture an 18-10 advantage after one quarter and fend off each attempt by the Bluejays to extend their run. After shooting just 22.2% in the opening frame, the Bluejays found their footing as Creighton closed within five at the half, racing into the locker room after a trey from junior Kiani Lockett.
In the third quarter the game got as close as two points at 35-33 (7:13) and again at 41-39 (3:57) on a three-pointer from junior Kennedy Townsend. Illinois, however, responded with five consecutive points and held Creighton at arm's length the rest of the way.
Although the loss ended Creighton's season with a 26-7 record, the contributions of the departing senior class have forever altered the trajectory of the Bluejay Women's Basketball landscape. The quintet of Mallory Brake, Jayme Horan, Lauren Jensen, Molly Mogensen and Morgan Maly took the program from a 10-12 Covid Season of 2020-21 to a legacy of four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (a program record). Along the way setting a new standard that took the Bluejay program to its first Elite Eight, within moments a second trip to the Sweet 16 in 2024. Elevating a program, however, is about more than simply celebrating victories, it is also about setting the standard of expectations. Moving forward NCAA Tournaments are the expectation, rather than the occasional highlight.
The individual accomplishments have been recorded and acknowledged, but the redefining of the Creighton program is the true legacy of this team.
Team Stats
CU
Illini
FG%
.361
.446
3FG%
.273
.333
FT%
.636
.833
RB
32
42
TO
8
11
STL
8
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
17
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
5
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG/F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
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