Women's Basketball Hosts Wichita State in MVC Opener
1/2/2008 5:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Wichita State Shockers at Creighton Bluejays
Omaha Civic Auditorium ? Omaha, Neb.
Radio: 88.9 FM, www.kvss.com
Video: www.gocreighton.com
Series History: Creighton leads 21-19
Last Meeting: Creighton won 71-68 in Wichita, Feb. 25, 2007
? The game can be heard on Spirit 88.9 FM (KVSS) and online at www.kvss.com. Brad Burwell and Sara Cizek Going will call the action.
? Live stats and live video for this game and all home games can be found on the CU athletics website at www.gocreighton.com.
? CU is 10-5 all-time in MVC openers, and 11-4 in its first MVC home game of the year.
? CU is 3-0 at home this year, with five Bluejays averaging at least nine points per game in those three wins, led by Kelsey Woodard's 10.3 points per home game.
? Ally Thrall is tied for the MVC lead, shooting 45.5 percent from three-point range, while she is 13-for-19 from long range over her last four games.
? CU made a season-high 12 three-pointers and shot a season-best 57.1 percent beyond the arc in its last home game against Kansas State (Dec. 18).
? The Bluejays lead the MVC and rank among NCAA leaders in free-throw shooting, making 76.3 percent at the free-throw line. Sam Schuett (.958) leads the MVC in free-throw percentage.
? CU is 21-19 all-time against Wichita State, including 10-2 in the last dozen meetings and 8-2 under Jim Flanery. CU is 12-6 against WSU in Omaha.
Scouting the Bluejays (7-4)
At 7-4, Creighton has a winning non-conference record for the first time since 2004-05 ... The Jays are undefeated at home this year, with wins over UALR, Memphis and Kansas State ... CU has lost four games this year, three to Big 12 schools and at sixth-ranked Rutgers ... CU had the toughest non-conference schedule in the league for the second straight year, with a strength of schedule of 53 ... Sara Cain leads the team with 10.2 points per game ... Sam Schuett leads the team with 6.1 rebounds per game and adds 9.6 ppg, while leading the MVC by shooting 95.8 percent at the foul line ... Ally Thrall is averaging 14 points per game in her last four contests, shooting 68.4 percent from three-point range in that span ... Megan Neuvirth, the 2007 MVC Newcomer of the Year, tops the team with 1.9 steals per game ... The Bluejays are forcing 18.6 turnovers per game and averaging 8.4 steals ... CU averages 65.4 points per game and allows 63.5 and is 7-0 when shooing at least 40 percent from the field.
Scouting the Shockers (6-6)
Wichita State is off to a 6-6 start, while it is undefeated at home and winless away from Wichita ... The average RPI of teams the Shockers have defeated is 273, with three teams ranked 306th or lower ... WSU has not played since a win over Winthrop on Dec. 20 ... The Shockers rank last in the MVC in offense, averaging just 55.5 points per game, while the WSU defense leads the MVC, allowing just 59.4 ppg ... WSU ranks eighth in the MVC in shooting, making 37.7 percent of its shots, and is last in the Valley in three-point percentage at 28.6 ... The Shockers lead the league with 41.2 rebounds per game, paced by Marcy Sudbeck's 7.1 per game ... All-MVC performer Kiki Stephens tops the team with 12.5 points per game and she averages 5.7 rebounds.
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 95-72 (.569). Prior to serving as CU's head coach, Flanery served as CU's top assistant for a decade. Wichita State is coached by Jane Albright (Appalachian State, 1977) in her fifth year with the Shockers. She is 45-79 in her time at Wichita and 394-296 in her 24th year as a head coach. She was previously head coach at Northern Illinois and Wisconsin.
CU-WSU Series
Creighton leads the all-time series with Wichita State 21-19, including a 10-2 mark in the last dozen meetings. The Jays are 12-6 against the Shockers in Omaha, including six straight wins on the Jays home court. WSU's last win in Omaha was an 89-76 victory on Jan. 1, 2001. Last year the Jays swept the series, with a 71-68 triumph in Wichita last February and a 72-66 win last Jan. 27 in Omaha. Last year in Omaha, Ally Thrall led all players with 19 points, five assists and three steals. Megan Neuvirth chipped in 16 points and eight rebounds in the win. In Wichita, Sara Cain scored a then career-best 19 points and Tyrai Bronson came off the bench to drain four three-pointers for a career-best 12 points in the victory.
MVC Openers
Since joining the Missouri Valley Conference in 1993, the Bluejays have gone 10-5 in Valley openers. After five straight MVC opening wins, the Jays lost at Illinois State to start the Valley season last year. The Jays are now 4-1 in their first MVC game of the year under Jim Flanery. This MVC opener marks the first time since 2002-03 ? an 89-75 win over Bradley ? that the Jays are beginning conference play with a home game. CU is 11-4 in their first MVC home game of the year, having won five of their last six MVC home openers.
Strong Schedule, High RPI
For the second straight year, Creighton has compiled the strongest non-conference schedule in the MVC. CU's strength of schedule (SOS) ranks 53rd on www.collegerpi.com (through game played on Jan. 1). The average SOS of the other nine teams in the MVC is 158. The Jays have played four teams in the top 30 of the RPI, including No. 4 Rutgers. Indiana State's SOS of 74 is next closest, while Evansville played the worst non-conference slate with a 280 SOS. The Bluejays' RPI of 66 ranks second in the MVC, trailing only Illinois State's 46. The average RPI of the other nine teams in the conference is also 158. Southern Illinois ranks last in the MVC with an RPI of 230.
Home Sweet Home
Creighton played just three non-conference home games, winning all three. The Jays will open MVC play with three straight home games. CU's average margin of victory at home this year is 17.7, scoring 75.3 points per game and allowing just 57.7. Five Bluejays are averaging at least nine points per game at home, led by Kelsey Woodard's 10.3 per game. Kristina Voss (9.3), Ally Thrall (9.3), Michelle Kaus (9.0) and Sara Cain (9.0) all average at least nine points per home game. CU is shooting 44.7 percent from the field and 39.6 percent from three-point range at home this year.
The Ally Way
Senior point guard Ally Thrall is tied for the MVC lead by making 45.5 percent of her three-pointers this year. She is 13-for-19 (.684) from three-point range in her last four games, after starting the season 7-for-25 (.280) through her first seven contests. Thrall is averaging 14 points per game in her last four contests, including 18 points and a 5-for-5 performance from three-point range against Kansas State (Dec. 18).
Rolling Stone Gathers No Voss
For the second straight year, junior Kristina Voss scored a career-high against Oral Roberts. Voss poured in 16 points against ORU on Dec. 21, making a career best seven field goals on 11 attempts. The center leads the team in field goal percentage, making 56.6 percent of her shots from the floor.
Follow the Leader
But who is the leader? When Kristina Voss led the team with 16 points at Oral Roberts (Dec. 21), she became the seventh different Bluejay to lead the team in scoring this year. Sara Cain, Ally Thrall and Kelsey Woodard have each topped the team in scoring three times this year. Eight different players average at least 4.8 points per game for the Jays this year.
More Balanced Bluejays
In addition to CU's balanced scoring attack this year, the Bluejays rank second in the MVC in assists per game. CU is dishing 14.2 helpers per game despite not one Bluejay ranking in the top 10 in assists per game. Ally Thrall ranks 11th in the MVC with 3.0 assists per game, while four other Bluejays average at least 1.6 assists per game.
Where's Cain?
For the second time in her career, senior Sara Cain was unable to attend a game due to family matters. Cain, Creighton's leading scorer this year, missed the Oral Roberts game on Dec. 21. She also missed a game because of family matters during her sophomore year - the only two games she has missed in her career.
Woodard Earns First Start
Freshman Kelsey Woodard made her first career start at Oral Roberts (Dec. 21). The guard scored 11 points and had a career-best five rebounds, while making 4-of-8 shots in her first game as a starter.
League Leaders
Ally Thrall and Sam Schuett entered the weekend leading the MVC in statistical categories. Thrall is tied for the league lead with a 45.5 three-point shooting percentage, while Schuett is the Valley leader in free-throw percentage. Schuett ranks among NCAA leaders, by making 95.8 percent (23-24) of her throws this year.
Long Layoff
When Creighton takes the floor on Friday, it will be the Jays' first game since Dec. 21. The two-week break between games is CU's longest break since a two-week hiatus between games during the 1985-86 season. Wichita State has not played since Dec. 20, a 15-day span.
Thrall For Three (x 5)
Ally Thrall established a career-high by making five three-pointers against Kansas State (Dec. 18). She was perfect from long range, making all five of her attempts in the first half. It marked the best three-point shooting day by a Bluejay since CU's all-time leading scorer and three-point specialist Kathy Halligan went 5-for-5 from long range on Feb. 20, 1992 against BYU. Below are the best three-point shooting games since that Halligan game.
Perfect 3-Point Games Since 1991-92
(at least four attempts)
Name 3FG-A Opponent, Date
Ally Thrall 5-5 Kansas St., 12/18/07
Laura Spanheimer 4-4 Bradley, 1/30/05
Laura Spanheimer 4-4 Oregon St., 12/2/04
Jenny Burns 4-4 Drake, 2/23/03
Laura Spanheimer 4-4 Iowa, 12/8/02
Dayna Finch 4-4 Northwestern, 12/10/00
Missy Miller 4-4 Wyoming, 12/7/92
Kathy Halligan 4-4 Wyoming, 3/3/92
Kathy Halligan 5-5 BYU, 2/20/92
Game-Ending Droughts
After Creighton drained 10 straight field goals against Kansas State (Dec. 18), the Jays failed to make a field goal over the final 7:27 of the game. It marked the second straight game in which the Bluejays ended the game with an extended field goal drought. At Iowa State (Dec. 16), the Bluejays led 47-37 with 9:35 remaining in the game, but did not make another field goal for the duration of the game. ISU closed on a 23-5 run and topped CU 60-52. On the season, the Bluejays are shooting just 27.9 percent from the field and only 15.8 percent from three-point range during the final five minutes of games.
Cain Cans Threes
Senior Sara Cain had attempted one three-point field goal during her first three years on campus. She made her first two career three-pointers at Rutgers (Nov. 16) and then drained a career-best three trifectas in a win over Kansas State (Dec. 18). On the season she is now 9-for-21 (.429) from beyond the arc.
40-40 Club
A defining number has popped up in Creighton's first 11 games this year - 40. When the Bluejays shoot 40 percent or better from the field, they are 7-0 on the season. When they shoot below 40 percent, they are winless. In fact, in CU losses, the Jays are shooting just 30.4 percent, including 30 percent from three-point range. In their seven wins, the Jays are shooting 44.8 percent from the floor and 36.0 percent from long range.
Winning Non-Conference Record
At 7-4, the Bluejays have a winning non-conference record for the first time since going 6-3 in 2004-05 season. The Jays were 2-7 against non-conference foes in 2005-06 and went 3-8 out of conference last year. The Jays went 7-2 in the non-conference schedule before MVC play in the 2002-03 season.
Year-End Summary
At 7-4 this season, the Bluejays wrapped up the 2007 calendar year with a winning record, going 17-13 over the last 12 months. The last time CU recorded a winning record during a calendar year was 2005 when it was 16-14.
Not Half Bad
Creighton shot better than 50 percent from the field and from three-point range in its win over Kansas State (Dec. 18), the first time the Jays have topped both numbers in the same game since topping Memphis 89-79 on Dec. 6, 2006.
50-50
CU shot 51.1 percent from the field against Kansas State (Dec. 18), marking the 13th time since 2002-03 the Jays have made at least half of their shots. The Jays are 12-1 when making 50 percent of their shots or better under Jim Flanery. CU shot 57.1 percent from three-point range, the 12th game under Flanery the Jays have made at least half of their long range shots, improving to 9-3 in such games.
Cheaper by the Dozen
Creighton made a season-high 12 three-pointers in its win over Kansas State (Dec. 18). It marked the most threes by the Bluejays since making 12 against Missouri State on Feb. 2, 2006. It was the 10th game in the Jim Flanery era (since 2002-03) the Jays have made at least a dozen treys in a game, moving to 7-3 in such games.
Now I'm ... Three Fallin
Creighton exploded for a season-high 12 three-pointers against Kansas State (Dec. 18), the most threes in a game by the Jays since Feb. 2006. The Jays have now made at least nine three-pointers in a game four times this season. CU is now shooting 33.6 percent from three-point range on the year. In the four games the Jays have made at least nine treys, they are shooting 46.6 percent (41-88) from beyond the arc. In the six games they have not made nine trifectas, the Jays are shooting just 25.5 percent (36-141) from beyond the arc.
Ten Straight Makes
Creighton shot a season-high 51.1 percent from the field in its win over Kansas State (Dec. 18). Helping the cause was a span in the second half when the Bluejays made 10 straight field goals without a miss. Sara Cain and Kristina Voss had three straight baskets each during the run that put CU up by 20 with 7:27 left in the game.
Battling the Big 12
Creighton's win over Kansas State (Dec. 18) snapped a nine-game losing streak to Big 12 opponents, including three losses to Big 12 teams this year. The Bluejays had not defeated a Big 12 foe since a win over Colorado on Dec. 3, 2005. The Jays are now 7-13 against the Big 12 under Jim Flanery.
Woodard Named Newcomer of the Week
For the second time in the first six weeks of the season, freshman Kelsey Woodard has been named the MVC Newcomer of the Week. The rookie led a near-upset for the Bluejays at Iowa State on Sunday. Woodard scored the final eight points of the first half to cap an 18-3 CU run, giving the Jays a 28-22 lead. She finished with a team-high 12 points, making 3-of-4 field goals and 2-of-3 three-pointers, while adding a pair of assists and rebounds.
Streak Stops With Broken Record
Sam Schuett set a school record earlier this year by making her first 22 free-throw attempts of the season. Just one game after Schuett's streak ended, Kelsey Woodard surpassed Schuett and made her 23rd straight freebie to start the season, before missing her final two free-throw attempts at Iowa State (Dec. 16). Woodard also established the school record for consecutive free-throw makes to start a career.
Half and Half
For the first time this year, the Bluejays lost when leading at halftime at Iowa State (Dec. 16). The Jays led 28-22 at the break in the 60-52 loss. A rarity in the Jim Flanery era, CU is now 76-16 when leading at halftime since 2002-03. The 22 points scored by ISU in the opening half were the fewest points scored by a Bluejay opponent in a half this year.
Helping Hands
At Denver (Dec. 5), the Bluejays dished 12 assists on their 12 first half field goals and finished with 20 assists on 24 field goals. Both Sam Schuett (6) and Kelsey Crites (5) established career-highs for assists at Denver, while Sara Cain (4) had a season-high and was just one shy of her career-best effort.
Schuett is Player of the Week, Dec. 10
Sam Schuett became the first Bluejay to be named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week since current graduate manager Kristi Woodard earned the honor Jan. 9, 2006. Schuett earned the honor after putting up 16 points, eight rebounds, career-high six assists, three steals and a blocked shot at Denver (Dec. 5). The Omaha native is the first CU sophomore to earn the honor since Woodard did so on Jan. 12, 2004.
Holy Schuett
With a career-high 30 points at Nebraska (Nov. 30), sophomore Sam Schuett became the first Bluejay to score 30 points since Angie Janis scored 30 against Bradley on March 2, 2006. Schuett made a career-high 11 field goals in the game, including the first 10 she attempted. Her 11 field goals in the game are the most by a player in the MVC this season. She was the first Bluejay to score 30 on the road and against a non-conference opponent since Laura Spanheimer had 31 at Oregon State on Dec. 2, 2004. No CU sophomore had scored 30 points since Christy Neneman poured in 39 against Drake on March 9, 2002 in the MVC Tournament title game.
Double Your Pleasure
As if exploding for a career-best 30 points in a game wasn't enough, Sam Schuett added a game-high 10 rebounds for her first, and the team's first, double-double of the year at Nebraska (Nov. 30). It was Schuett's fourth career double-dime.
Bench Warmers
Creighton's bench is averaging 27.7 points per game this year, scoring at least 43 points off the bench three times this season. 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 27.7 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
Start Me Up
Creighton opened the year 4-1 this season, its best five-game start since 2000. Last year the Bluejays started 0-7 and did not capture their fourth win of the season until Jan. 6. CU went 4-3 this November, its most wins in November since 1985.
Tournament Champions
Creighton captured the tournament title at the Rocky Mountain Invitational in Fort Collins, Colo. (Nov. 23-24). 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Rutgers
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 120 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.
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).
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.
Welcome to Creighton
CU's three freshmen are all from the Omaha 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.
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.
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 26 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.
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.
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.
