Women's Basketball at Kansas Tuesday
11/26/2007 11:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Creighton Bluejays at Kansas Jayhawks
Allen Fieldhouse ? Lawrence, Kan.
Radio: 88.9 FM, www.kvss.com
Series History: Kansas leads 16-12
Last Meeting: Kansas 60, Creighton 47 on Nov. 20, 2006 in Omaha
? The game can be heard on Spirit 88.9 FM (KVSS) and online at www.kvss.com. Brad Burwell and Rob Simms will call the action.
? Live stats for this game and select road games can be found on the CU athletics website at www.gocreighton.com.
? At 4-1, the Bluejays are off to their best start under Jim Flanery and best start since the 2000-01 team opened the year 6-1.
? The Bluejays are 2-0 on their six-game road trip which will not end until they return home on Dec. 18.
? Creighton has the top-ranked scoring defense and rebounding margin in the MVC, allowing just 57.2 points per game and out-rebounding opponents by 4.8 per game.
? CU won the Rocky Mountain Invitational in Fort Collins, Colo., last weekend, defeating Kent State and Colorado State. Sara Cain averaged 12 points and 6.5 rebounds to earn tournament MVP honors.
? The Bluejays are 20-of-47 (.426) from three-point range in their last two games.
? The Bluejay bench has scored at least 30 points in each CU win this year and is averaging 34.2 points per game.
? CU is 12-16 all-time against Kansas, including 5-9 all-time in Lawrence.
? The game is set to be televised in the Kansas City area on Metro Sports and on ESPN360.
Coordinates are as follows:
Coordinates ? AMC15
Transponder ? K-03
Bandwidth ? 5
Uplink Freq. ? 14073.50 H
Downlink Freq. ? 11773.50 V
Scouting the Bluejays
Creighton is off to its best start in seven years with a 4-1 record, its only loss coming at No. 6 Rutgers ... CU is coming off a 13-19 season, including an 8-10 sixth-place finish in the Missouri Valley Conference and a spot in the MVC Tournament title game ... CU is picked to finish sixth in the MVC preseason poll ... The Bluejays show impressive offensive balanced, with all 10 regulars averaging between 5.2 and 9.4 points per game, led by senior Sara Cain ... Freshman Kelsey Woodard is second on the team with 8.8 points per game, as she is averaging 11.3 ppg in CU's last three games ... The defense leads the MVC, allowing just 57.2 points per game, while the offense averages 69.8 ppg ... Megan Neuvirth, the 2007 MVC Newcomer of the Year, tops the team with 6.0 rebounds per game, while Kristina Voss has logged 15 offensive rebounds (of 20 total) ... Junior Chevelle Herring and freshman Abby Henry are both out for the season due to knee injuries.
Scouting the Jayhawks
Kansas opened the year 3-0 before falling at SMU last Saturday ... KU owns a win over MVC foe Drake, 69-64 ... KU was 11-20 last year, including 4-12 for an 11th-place finish in the Big 12 ... The Jayhawks are led by Danielle McCray's 15 points per game, in addition to her 7.3 rebounds per game ... Sade Morris adds 12 points per game, while Taylor McIntosh leads the team with 8.5 rebounds per game, along with 8.5 points per game ... KU averages 66.2 points per game and allows 65.5 ... KU turns the ball over 19.5 times per game.
The Coaches
Jim Flanery (Creighton, 1987) guided his team to three straight WNIT appearances to start his career, while capturing the 2004 WNIT Championship. In 2003 he became the winningest rookie coach in school and MVC history. Now in his sixth season at CU, his overall mark is 92-69 (.571). Prior to serving as CU's head coach, Flanery served as CU's top assistant for a decade. Flanery is 2-2 against Kansas, dropping the last two meetings, while he is 6-10 against Big 12 opponents. Kansas is led by Bonnie Henrickson. She is 43-50 in her fourth year at KU and 201-112 in her 11th year as a head coach.
CU-KU Series History
The Bluejays are 12-16 all-time against the Jayhawks, including losses in the last two meetings after a five-game winning streak in the series. CU fell 60-47 to KU last year in Omaha and lost 63-52 during its last trip to Lawrence in 2005. The Jays are 5-9 all-time in Lawrence, including 2-1 in their last three trips to Allen Fieldhouse.
Last Year Against Kansas
KU spoiled the Jays home opener with a 60-47 win in Omaha on Nov. 20. The Jayhawks jumped out to a 24-4 lead to start the game and never looked back. CU reached double figures in turnovers before making its third field goal, as it shot just 25 percent, for its worst shooting game and lowest point total of the year. No Bluejay scored in double figures or made more than two field goals, as Ally Thrall and Chevelle Herring topped the struggling offense with eight points each. Sade Morris scored 20 points off the bench for KU. Creighton dominated the glass, out-rebounding Kansas 44-29, led by Megan Neuvirth's six caroms. CU finished with 26 turnovers, as KU swiped 12 steals in the Bluejay loss. (Complete box score and game recap on page 49 of media guide).
Battling the Big 12
Four of Creighton's next five games will be against Big 12 opponents. Under Jim Flanery, the Bluejays are 6-10 against Big 12 opponents. They went 0-4 against the conference last year and have not beat a Big 12 team since a 77-72 win over Colorado on Dec. 3, 2005. In 2004-05, the Jays were 3-0 against Big 12 foes. Flanery's record against Big 12 opponents; Colorado 2-0; Kansas 2-2; Kansas State 0-3; Missouri 0-1; Nebraska 2-3; Texas Tech 0-1.
Tournament Champions
Creighton captured the tournament title at the Rocky Mountain Invitational in Fort Collins, Colo., last week. The Bluejays topped Kent State 71-57 and host Colorado State 78-56 to win the event. Sara Cain averaged 12 points and 6.5 rebounds per game to earn tournament MVP honors, while Sam Schuett added 11.5 points per game to earn all-tourney recognition. It was CU's first in-season tournament title since winning the InnSuites Classic in Flagstaff, Ariz., in 1998.
November Reign
Creighton is 4-1 this November and a win in one of its next two games would tie the school record for wins in the month as established by the 1984 team (5-0). CU's four wins this November are the most by a Bluejay team since the 1985 squad went 4-1 in the opening month of the year. Prior to this November, the Jays were 6-12 in the 11th month of the year under Jim Flanery.
Starting Fresh
Creighton is 4-1 on the season for the first time since the 2000-01 team opened the year 6-1. One year removed from an 0-7 start, the Bluejays did not capture their fourth win of the season until Jan. 6 last season. CU had not reached its fourth win in November since 1985.
It's Raining Threes
Creighton has made 10 three-pointers in each of its last two games. It's the first time the Jays have put together back-to-back double figure three-point games since the first two contests of the 2004-05 season. Last year the Bluejays ranked last in the MVC and were the worst three-point shooting team in school history, making just 30.1 percent from behind the arc. Last year's team hit 10 three-pointers in a game just once. Not only has CU made 20 threes in its last two games, the Jays are shooting 42.6 percent (20-47) from behind the arc in that span.
We'll Take That
The Bluejays forced a season-high 29 turnovers against Memphis (Nov. 19) and followed by forcing 25 turnovers against Kent State (Nov. 23). The 54 turnovers in a two-game span are the most under Jim Flanery and the most since the 1999 team swiped a combined 55 in a two-game span against USC and Wyoming.
Perfect Start
Freshman Kelsey Woodard appears poised to chase a record set by her sister, Kristi, during her Creighton career. The rookie has made the first 13 free-throws of her career, making at least two in each of CU's first five games. Kristi has the top two single-season free-throw shooting percentages in school history, making 89.2 percent in 2003-04 and 86.2 percent in 2004-05. The elder Woodard also owns the CU career free-throw shooting percentage record, making 86.2 percent in her career from 2002-06.
High Five
The Bluejays are off to their best start in Jim Flanery's six seasons at the helm. Statistics will point to a balanced offense and a tight defense which has the Jays off to a 4-1 start. The Jays are allowing a lowly 57.2 points per game, by far the fewest per game through five contests in Flanery's six years. Through the first five games in the past three seasons, opponents averaged better than 72 points per game and the next-best defensive team through five games since 2002-03 was the 2003-04 team at 69 points allowed per game.
Who's Scoring?
The answer is everyone. All 10 Bluejays who
see regular minutes are averaging between 5.2 and Sara Cain's team-leading 9.4 points per game. While its still early, it's noteworthy to know only one team in school history has had a leading scorer below 10 points per game. Joan Kepros led the first Bluejays squad in 1973-74 with 8.5 points per game for a team which averaged only 40.9 points per game.
Large Margins
Creighton topped Memphis 90-57 (Nov. 19) for a 33-point margin of victory, the largest in the Jim Flanery era. It was CU's largest margin of victory since topping Southern Illinois by 34, 88-54, in 2002. All of CU's wins have come by at least 13 points this year for an average 20.5 point margin of victory. Last year CU's largest margin of victory was 12 on two occasions.
Bench Warmers
Creighton's reserves didn't keep the bench warm in the Bluejays 90-57 win over Memphis on Nov. 19, they kept the nets warm, as the Bluejay bench scored 50 points in the win. It marks the highest bench output in the Jim Flanery era, topping the 41 points the 2002-03 bench twice put up. In fact, it's the most bench points scored by the Bluejays since the reserves scored 53 against Northwestern on Dec. 10, 2000.
Bench Scoring under Flanery
Season Average High Game
?07-08 34.2 50
?06-07 19.6 35
?05-06 17.0 31
?04-05 13.9 29
?03-04 15.8 30
?02-03 22.4 41
Balanced Bluejays
All 10 of CU's regulars are averaging between 5.2 points and Sara Cain's team-high 9.4 points per game. Ally Thrall leads the team with 30.6 minutes per game, while the other nine regulars are averaging between 14 and 23 minutes per game. Seven different players have made three-pointers this year as well. The numbers are so balanced across the board, there are few differences between the starters and reserves. See the chart below:
Statistic Starters Reserves
PPG 35.6 34.2
FG% 41.1 38.6
Opp FG% 38.2 43.0
3FG-3FGA 15-50 20-56
3FG% 30.0 35.7
FT-FTA 39-50 39-52
FT% 78.0 75.0
Rebounds 20.4 18.8
Assists 6.8 7.4
Steals 5.8 3.6
Out of Action
The Jays have lost two players for the season due knee injuries, marking the third straight season knee problems have forced a Bluejay to miss the season. This year, junior Chevelle Herring and freshman Abby Henry are both out for the year due to injuries. Herring had surgery on an injured knee in early November, while Henry suffered a torn ACL in preseason practice. Last year Kelsey Crites went down with a torn ACL in the sixth game of the year and earned a medical redshirt. In 2005-06, Megan Neuvirth suffered a knee injury in the first official practice of the fall and missed the season. Herring and Henry will apply for medical redshirts at the end of the year.
90 for 90
Creighton scored 90 points against Memphis (Nov. 19) and helped head coach Jim Flanery capture his 90th career win. It was the sixth time under Flanery the Jays have scored at least 90, improving to 6-0 when reaching that mark since 2002-03.
More High Water Marks
In addition to being the largest margin of victory (33) and the most points scored by the Bluejay bench (50) in the Flanery era, the 48 points CU scored in the paint against Memphis on Nov. 19 were the most under Flanery. CU also forced 29 turnovers in the game, tying the high mark for a Flanery team set against Southern Illinois on Jan. 16, 2003. The Bluejays scored 36 points off the 29 turnovers, the second-most points off turnovers under Flanery, as the Jays scored 39 points off of Evansville turnovers on Feb. 13, 2003.
Take a Breather
Senior Ally Thrall has led the MVC in minutes played in each of the last two seasons. She had done so by playing at least 31 minutes in 60 straight games before playing just 22 minutes in CU's blowout of Memphis (Nov. 19). It was the fewest minutes played for Thrall since playing 22 against Houston on Nov. 30, 2005 in the third game of her sophomore year.
Crites Career High
Sophomore Kelsey Crites tied her career high with 11 points against Memphis (Nov. 19). She also attempted a career-best 12 shots in just 20 minutes of play off the bench for the Jays.
D-D-D Defense
Through five games, the CU defense appears much improved over last year, allowing an average of just 57.2 points per game. Last year's team allowed 68.1 points per game, including 74.0 per game through the first five. In the last 10 years, the lowest points per game by the CU opposition was 62.2, as recorded by the 2001-02 MVC Championship team.
Cain is Able to hit Threes
Senior Sara Cain had attempted one three-pointer in her career through her first three seasons on campus. At Rutgers (Nov. 16), she launched six shots from long range, making two. She hit back-to-back three-pointers early in the second half to account for the first two trifectas of her career. She again drained two three-pointers in CU's win at Colorado State (Nov. 24).
That's Offensive
Junior Kristina Voss is averaging 4.0 rebounds per game, with 20 through five contests. Of her 20 boards, 15 have come on the offensive end.
Battling the Best
With a 62-43 loss at No. 6 Rutgers (Nov. 16), the Bluejays have now lost 13 consecutive games to nationally-ranked opponents. CU's last win against a ranked foe came on Dec. 7, 1999 when it defeated 14th-ranked Kansas in Omaha, 55-54. The Jays' last road win against a ranked team came Jan. 2, 1999, a 67-64 win at No. 25 Missouri State in Springfield, Mo. CU is 2-17 against the top-25 since 1998-99.
Shooting Woes at Rugters
The Bluejays lost 62-43 at No. 6 Rutgers (Nov. 16). CU shot just 22 percent in the loss, its worst shooting performance since shooting 19.7 percent at Northwestern on Nov. 21, 2003.
Solid Debuts
Freshmen Kellie Nelson and Kelsey Woodard had strong collegiate debuts against UALR on Nov. 10. Nelson grabbed six rebounds in the first half and finished with seven points and seven rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench. Woodard was 3-for-6 from the field and had eight points while tying for the team-lead with three assists, also in 19 minutes off the bench.
Three for Thrall
Ally Thrall's three-point basket against UALR on Nov. 10 was the 103rd of her career, breaking a tie with Christy Neneman for sole possession of 10th place on the CU career charts. Thrall now has 107 career three-pointers and the next person she will aim for on the CU three-point list will be current graduate manager Kristi Woodard who made 132 treys in her career.
They're Back
Creighton had no seniors on the roster last year and returns 10 of 11 letterwinners and all five starters from last year's team. The only player not returning is role-player Jess Lammers, therefore the Jays are returning 99.6 percent of scoring and 99.5 percent of minutes played from last year's team. All but one (Katie Frank) of the 10 returners started at least two games for the Jays last year.
Preseason Picks
The Bluejays received one first place vote and have been picked to finish sixth in the MVC this year in the preseason poll voted on by league coaches, media and sports information directors. The Jays were picked to finish ninth in last year's preseason poll, and ended the year in sixth. The last time the Bluejays were tabbed for a sixth-place finish was 2001-02, when they captured their first regular-season Valley title. Drake is the MVC preseason favorite for the second straight year, earning 24 of 39 first-place votes.
We “Kneed” You
Kelsey Crites and Megan Neuvirth are both coming off of ACL injuries suffered last year. Crites tore her right ACL in the sixth game (at Missouri) last season and earned a medical redshirt. Neuvirth suffered a torn ACL in the final moments of overtime in Creighton's final game last year, the MVC Tournament championship game at Drake.
Welcome to Creighton
Creighton's three freshmen this year are all from the Omaha metro area, including high school teammates Kelsey Woodard and Abby Henry. Both Bellevue West graduates verbally committed to Creighton prior to their sophomore year of high school. Kellie Nelson led her Westside team to a state runner-up finish, falling to Henry and Woodard's Thunderbirds in the state title game.
Senior Citizens
Sara Cain and Ally Thrall are seniors on this year's team, one year removed from a “senior-less” squad. Last year marked the first time since 1990-91 that the Bluejays did not have a senior. CU followed up that team without seniors by logging a school-record 28 wins and advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.
Five Starters Back
The Bluejays have all five starters back from last year's team after opening last season with just one returning starter. Senior Ally Thrall was the only player to start all 32 games last year, while Sara Cain started 29 and Michelle Kaus started 26. Megan Neuvirth (19) and Sam Schuett (18) are also considered returning starters. Kristina Voss (16) and Chevelle Herring (15) also started for a good portion of the season, while Kelsey Crites and Tyrai Bronson also earned a pair of starts each. This marks the first time since 1990-91 that the Bluejays have returned all five starters. That 1990-91 squad finished 22-7.
All in the Family
Freshman Kelsey Woodard is following in the footsteps of older sister Kristi, who played at Creighton from 2002-06 and is now the graduate manager for the Jays. Kelsey is wearing the same No. 3 that Kristi wore during her playing career. The Woodard's sister in-law, Heidi Geier Woodard is in the CU Athletics Hall of Fame for her softball career in the late 1990s.
Coaching Changes
Creighton welcomes Rekha P. Hollomon as an assistant coach on this year's team, replacing associate head coach Tanya Warren. Hollomon, a native of North Carolina, spent last season at Ball State and has also been on staff at Eastern Illinois and Baylor. Warren left her alma mater to become head coach at MVC foe Northern Iowa.
Stealing is Good
The Bluejays logged 8.6 steals per game last year, including a league-leading 8.5 in MVC games. That was much improved from the 2005-06 squad which recorded the fewest steals per game (5.6) in school history. Megan Neuvirth led the MVC with 76 steals as a freshman last year, including 43 in conference play and an MVC record 14 during the Valley tournament.
Seniors, Co-Captains, Roomies, etc.
Roommates Sara Cain and Ally Thrall have many similarities. Cain (Walford) and Thrall (Des Moines) are both Iowa natives, both earned MVC All-Tournament Team honors last year and both were named second-team all-MVC scholar-athletes last year. They co-led the team with 10.6 points per game (though Cain edged Thrall 339-338 total) and they are co-captains as the only two seniors on this season's team.
Nebraska Flavor
Over half of Creighton's 13 players on the roster this season are playing collegiate basketball in their home state. Bellevue natives Abby Henry (West), Chevelle Herring (East) and Kelsey Woodard (West), Omaha products Kellie Nelson (Westside) and Sam Schuett (Millard West) along with Katie Frank (South Sioux City) and Megan Neuvirth (West Point Central Catholic).
Thrall's to the Wall
Senior Ally Thrall has led the MVC in minutes played in each of the last two years, averaging 38.3 minutes per game last year and 37.4 minutes per game as a sophomore in 2005-06. She tied a school record by playing in 123 (of 125) minutes at the MVC Tournament last year. She played the entire game 12 times last year and has played an entire game 25 times in her career, including all 45 minutes of an OT game three times.
Neuvirth is Newcomer of Year
Sophomore Megan Neuvirth was named the MVC Newcomer of the Year last season as a redshirt freshman. She led the league with 76 steals, including an MVC-best 43 in conference play. Neuvirth also led the team with 6.7 rebounds per game and 7.3 in MVC play. She was the only freshman on the MVC All-Defensive team. Her four double-doubles last year also topped the team and were the most by a CU freshman since Shannon Struby's nine in 1990-91.
Record-Setting Performances
Creighton used record-setting efforts by a trio of players to reach the MVC Tournament title game last March. Megan Neuvirth set an MVC and school record by recording 14 steals in CU's three games at the event. Sam Schuett set the school record for total rebounds in an event with 27 and her 9.0 rebounds per tournament game in her career is a school record. Her 12 boards in the MVC Championship game also tied the school record for rebounds in a tournament game. Ally Thrall's 123 minutes played tied Krissie Spanheimer's 1999 school record for minutes played in an MVC tourney.
Exhibition Recap
Creighton cruised past Division II Central Missouri 88-48 on Nov. 1 in its only exhibition game this year. Six Bluejays scored in double figures, led by Sara Cain's 13. Kristina Voss logged a double-double with 12 points and game-high 12 rebounds. Senior Ally Thrall was joined by freshmen Kellie Nelson and Kelsey Woodard with 12 points each. In fact, both freshmen were the first players to reach double figures for the Bluejays. Sam Schuett added 11 points for the Jays off the bench. CU shot 55 percent from the field, 45.5 percent (10-22) from three-point range and went a perfect 12-for-12 from the free-throw line while out-rebounding UCM 41-22. The Jays forced 25 turnovers and had a 38-18 advantage in points off turnovers and dominated the paint, out-scoring UCM 44-10 inside.
Schedule Notes
Creighton again plays the toughest non-conference schedule in the MVC. The Jays opened the season against Arkansas-Little Rock on Saturday, Nov. 10. UALR is one of six teams that won at least 20 games last year. The Bluejays will also face four Big 12 teams (three on the road) and four NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago. Creighton's toughest task will come at preseason No. 3 Rutgers, the 2006-07 NCAA National runners-up, on Nov. 16.
Blog Me
Senior guard Ally Thrall has her own blog on the Creighton athletics website at www.gocreighton.com. “Thrall's Thoughts” gives fans insights to the team through the eyes of one of its co-captains. The public relations / advertising major updates the blog once a week.
We're Moving
Creighton broke ground for a new on-campus women's basketball and volleyball facility on Oct. 16. The Ryan Athletics Center and D.J. Sokol Arena, a 46,000 square-foot facility, will house a gym seating 2,500 to 3,000, women's basketball and volleyball coaches offices, locker rooms, ticket offices, athletic training and meeting rooms, media workrooms and much more. Construction on the facility located at Webster and Florence Blvd. (19th Street) is expected to be completed by the end of 2008.
Put it in Neutral
For the first time in women's Missouri Valley Conference Tournament history, the event will be played at a neutral site. The 10-team event will take place in St. Charles, Mo. (a suburb of St. Louis) on March 13-16 at The Family Arena. The neutral site will be a welcome site for league members who have not hosted the event over the past four seasons. The host school won the tournament in 2004 (Missouri State), 2005 (Illinois State), 2006 (Missouri State) and 2007 (Drake). In each of the last three seasons, the host school has been the seventh or eighth seed.
