Bluejays Fly Past Pioneers, 68-64, in Women's Basketball

DENVER ? Ally Thrall scored a game-high 18 points to lead the Creighton women's basketball team to a road victory over the University of Denver, 68-64, Wednesday night at Hamilton Gymnasium. Thrall was one of four Bluejays to score in double figures as Creighton improved to 5-3 on the season.

Denver's (2-4) only lead of the game came 2:31 into the game when the Pioneers took a 4-2 lead. The Bluejays scored the next three baskets of the game and never trailed again. CU used a 9-1 run late in the first half to take its biggest lead of the half, up 10 with one minute to play after a Kristina Voss conventional three-point play. The Pioneers scored the final four points of the opening stanza to make the halftime lead 32-26 in favor of the Jays.

Denver was the aggressor coming out of the locker room after halftime, cutting the Jays lead to 34-33 just 71 seconds into the half. That was as close as DU would get however, as Thrall drained her third three-pointer of the game to push the Jays back up by four. The Pioneers stayed within six until Tyrai Bronson nailed her only three-pointer of the game with 11:05 to play to give the Jays a 48-39 lead.

After the Pioneers came within five of the Jays with 6:33 left, Voss made a layup and Sam Schuett sank a three-pointer to put CU up 61-51 with 5:36 to go. The Bluejays led by three with just over a minute to play and went up by five with 39 seconds to go on a Sara Cain jumper. DU answered with a bucket and Thrall made 1-of-2 free-throws the next trip down the floor to give the Jays a 66-62 lead with 21 seconds to go. DU's Nnenna Akotaobi made a lay-up to make it a two-point game with 15 seconds to play.

Thrall made both of her free-throws on CU's next possession and sealed the four-point victory, CU's closest margin in a win this year.

Thrall's 18 points were a season-high for the senior guard. She went 7-for-8 at the free-throw line, after entering the game 6-for-8 at the stripe through seven games this season. Thrall canned three three-pointers and chipped in three assists for the Jays as well.

Schuett joined Thrall in double figures with 16 points, while she topped the team with eight rebounds and career-high six assists. Voss added 13 points, coming off the bench for the first time this season. The center went 6-for-7 from the floor. Cain finished with 11 points and four assists. Kelsey Crites dished a career-best five assists in just 16 minutes of play, while earning her first start of the season.

The Bluejays forced 25 DU turnovers and swiped 14 steals, led by Megan Neuvirth's four steals. Schuett and Kelsey Woodard each added three steals.

Akotaobi topped DU with 17 points, but also committed five turnovers.

Creighton now takes an 11-day break for finals before concluding its six-game road trip at Iowa State on Dec. 16. That game can be heard live on Spirit 88.9 and online at www.kvss.com.

Bluejays Fly Past Pioneers, 68-64, in Women's Basketball

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Players Mentioned

Tyrai Bronson

Sara Cain

Kelsey Crites

Megan Neuvirth

Sam Schuett

Ally Thrall

Kristina Voss

Kelsey Woodard