Bluejay WBB Takes On Butler on Sunday

Omaha, Neb. -- Creighton Women's Basketball gets back on the court on Sunday at 1:00 pm at home as the Bluejays host Butler in a contest on ESPN+. The game will be a Blue Out, with the Bluejays wearing Royal Blue.

1/4: - 1:00 pm
Butler at Creighton
Twitter: @GoCreighton, @CreightonWBB

TV: ESPN+ (Josh Peterson & Jon Schriner):
https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/7a0ce1f0-c8a8-4f38-b09e-f9c472005f6f

Stats: http://statb.us/v/crei/617078

Series with Butler: Creighton leads 18-8
Home: 8-3 Away: 7-5 Neutral: 3-0
The Bluejays have faced Butler 26 times, collecting 18 wins including the last nine meetings.

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
2/13/22 Butler W, 96-49
1/14/23 at Butler W, 75-56
2/27/23 Butler W, 74-46
1/10/24 Butler W, 89-53
2/4/24 at Butler W, 75-65
1/1/25 Butler W, 68-64
1/22/25 at Butler W, 63-52
ª - BIG EAST Tournament game
@ = played in Rosemont, Ill.
# = played in Milwaukee, Wis.
$ = played in Chicago, Ill.

About Butler

Located in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Butler went 16-18 last season, splitting two games in the WNIT.
Head coach Austin Parkinson is in his fourth season as the helm for the Bulldogs.

Scouting Butler (7-7, 1-3 BIG EAST)
Butler comes to Omaha having won three of their last four, with the only loss coming to No. 1 Connecticut on Dec. 28. The Bulldogs defeated Xavier (Dec. 19), Eastern Illinois (Dec. 14) and Indiana State (Dec. 11).

Lilly Zeinstra leads Butler with 10.3 ppg, while Caroline Dotsey and Saniya Jackson are just a step back at 9.8 and 8.8 ppg respectively.

The Bulldogs struggle at times handling the basketball as Butler averages 18.7 turnovers per game, but they shoot the ball at an impressive level (43.6%).

Scouting Creighton (6-8, 2-3 BIG EAST)
Freshman Neleigh Gessert took over the scoring lead with 25 points, hitting seven treys, at Villanova. Senior leader Kennedy Townsend was dynamic against Georgetown with 30 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter, and scored 19 at Villanova.

Home for the first time since Dec. 22, Creighton returned from a six-day road trip on Jan. 1.

The Bluejays have lost three straight, the last time a Creighton team dropped four consecutive games came during the 2018-19 season.
Keys to the Game

Post Contribution: The tandem of Elizabeth Gentry and Grace Boffeli have a combined 17 points during Creighton's three-game losing streak.
Forcing Turnovers: The Bluejays have been at their best when pressuring the basketball. Combine that with Butler's struggles with turnovers and it becomes an area Creighton must exploit.
Three-Point Shooting: Kennedy Townsend and Neleigh Gessert have 20 combined treys over the last two games. The Bluejays need others to contribute in case either shooter
begins to cool.

Scheduling Imbalance Provides Butler an Edge
Despite playing at home, Creighton enters the contest at Butler with a distinct disadvantage. Butler has played one game since Dec. 20, a home contest with No. 1 Connecticut. During that same span Creighton has played four games, including a grueling road span at Villanova as well as Georgetown.

Scheduling is challenging, with one team often having an extra day to prepare, yet this situation that gave three extra prep days to Butler as well as significant rest.

Gessert Hits Seven Treys For Second Time This Season
Freshman Neleigh Gessert closed the game at Villanova (Jan. 1) with seven three-pointers as she delivered 25 points. She also connected for seven against Northern Arizona (Nov. 28). In her young career (14 games) she has marked her spot in Creighton single game history twice.

3-Point Field Goals Made in a Single Game
1. 10 Kathy Halligan at New Mexico State 2/10/90
2. 9 Melissa Sanford vs. Oral Roberts 12/6/89
3. 8 Morgan Maly vs. Marquette 1/8/25
8 Jaylyn Agnew vs. Georgetown 3/1/20
8 Dayna Finch vs. Indiana State 3/7/02
8 Kathy Halligan vs. Brigham Young 2/1/90
7. 7 Neleigh Gessert at Villanova 1/1/26
7 Neleigh Gessert vs. Northern Arizona 11/28/25
7 Lauren Jensen vs. Butler 2/13/22
7 Jaylyn Agnew at Providence 2/8/20
7 Olivia Elger at #11 DePaul 1/31/20
7 Audrey Faber vs. #13 Florida State 12/21/17
7 Marissa Janning vs. Nebraska 12/18/16
7 Kelsey Woodard at Indiana State 1/3/09
7 Dayna Finch at Iowa 12/28/03
7 Dayna Finch at Michigan 11/22/02
7 Holly Sivesind vs. Iowa State 12/20/95
7 Missy Miller at Bradley 1/7/93
7 Kathy Halligan vs. Iowa State 12/15/89
7 Kathy Halligan at Southern Utah 11/27/89

Gessert Third in The NCAA In Three-Pointers
Entering the game with Butler, freshman Neleigh Gessert is third in the NCAA with 48 made three pointers. She is the top freshman but four trey.

Made 3FG
1. Briana Rivera (Samford) So. 60
2. Kristin williams (Coastal Carolina) Sr. 51
3. Neleigh Gessert (Creighton) Fr. 48
4. Maggie Doogan (Richmond) Sr. 46
T5. Dani Carnegie (Georgia) So. 45
T5. Azzi Fudd (UConn) Sr. 45
T5. Jaila Hardin (Wichita State) Sr. 45
8. Naomi White (Northern Arizona) Fr. 44
T9. Emani Jenkins (Troy) Sr. 43
T9. Haleigh Timmer (Oklahoma State) Sr. 43
T9. Allie Turner (Gonzaga) So. 43

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Grace Boffeli

Elizabeth Gentry

Neleigh Gessert

Lauren Jensen

Morgan Maly

Kennedy Townsend