Bluejays Host UNI in Women's Basketball Thursday

Game 17 vs. Northern Iowa ? Thursday, Jan. 24 ? 7:05 p.m.
Northern Iowa Panthers at Creighton Bluejays
Omaha Civic Auditorium ? Omaha, Neb.
Radio: 88.9 FM, www.kvss.com ? Video: www.gocreighton.com
Series History: Creighton leads 25-12
Last Meeting: UNI won 78-72 (ot) in Cedar Falls, Feb. 3, 2007

? The game can be heard on Spirit 88.9 FM (KVSS) and online at www.kvss.com. Brad Burwell and former Bluejay 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.

? Creighton is 5-1 at home this season and 75-25 at home since 2000-01.

? During CU's three-game losing streak, the Jays are averaging 20 turnovers per game and opponents are scoring 24 points per game off of those turnovers.

? Kelsey Woodard leads the team with 12.2 points per game and shoots 11-for-22 from three-point range in MVC play.

? Woodard scored a career-high 25 points at SIU last Sunday, the most points by a Bluejay freshman since 1993.

? Kristina Voss had career-highs with 21 points and 13 rebounds for her first collegiate double-double at SIU last Sunday. Voss ranks second in the MVC with a 55.6 field goal percentage

? CU leads the MVC and ranks 16th in the NCAA with a 76.6 free-throw percentage.

? CU leads the all-time series with UNI 25-12, including a 16-2 edge in Omaha.

Scouting the Bluejays
Creighton is looking to avoid its first four-game losing streak since opening last year with seven straight losses ... CU has not lost four straight MVC games since losing 13 straight during the 2005-06 season ... CU lost four non-conference games this year, three to Big 12 schools and at sixth-ranked Rutgers to play one of the toughest non-conference slates in the league ... Senior Sara Cain leads the team with 10.7 points per game ... Sam Schuett leads the team with 6.6 rebounds per game, 7.6 in MVC play ... Ally Thrall ranks second in the MVC, shooting 44.6 percent from three-point range this season ... She also tops the Jays with 3.5 assists per game ... Kelsey Woodard (12.2) is one of three Bluejays to average double figures in MVC play, Cain (11.6) and Kristina Voss (10.0) also average at least 10 in Valley play ... Woodard is second in the MVC with a 89.7 free-throw percentage ... Woodard (8-8) and Cain (13-13) have not missed a free-throw in MVC play ... CU ranks second in the MVC with 15.3 assists per game.

Scouting the Panthers
After opening the year 4-2, UNI is 2-8 over its last 10 games ... UNI has played two similar non-conference opponents as Creighton, defeating Colorado State, 72-58, to open the year and falling at Iowa State, 69-41 ... UNI edged Bradley 64-62 to open MVC play and crushed Wichita State 63-30 last Saturday ... Nine of UNI's 10 active players are freshmen or sophomores ... Freshman Jacqui Kalin leads the team with 11.9 points and 4.2 assists per game ... Nicole Clausen adds 10.1 points per game and 33 three-pointers ... UNI's lone senior, Traci Ollendieck contributes 8.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and a team-leading 34 three-pointers ... Freshman Erin Brocka leads UNI with 5.6 rebounds per game ... UNI ranks last in the MVC in rebounds per game (33.5) and steals per game (5.8) and ranks ninth by scoring 57.8 points per game ... The Panthers top the league and rank 18th in the NCAA, making 7.2 three-pointers 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 97-75 (.563). Prior to serving as CU's head coach, Flanery served as CU's top assistant for a decade. UNI is coached by Creighton athletics Hall of Famer Tanya Warren (Creighton, 1988), in her first year as a collegiate head coach. Warren spent her previous three seasons at Creighton as the associate head coach and was an assistant at UNI from 1995-2001.

Creighton-UNI Series
Creighton leads the all-time series with UNI, 25-12, including 16-2 in Omaha. UNI captured its second win in Omaha last year, topping the Bluejays 56-53 on Jan. 4. Prior to that meeting, CU had won seven straight match-ups with UNI in Omaha. The teams have split the last 10 overall meetings, with no team winning more than two straight in the series in that span. Three of the last six meetings between the teams have gone into overtime. UNI swept the Jays last year, also winning 78-72 in overtime in Cedar Falls on Feb. 3. Ally Thrall topped CU with 15 points and went 3-for-3 from three-point range against UNI at home last year. The Jays had a seven-minute stretch without a field goal in the second half of its home loss last year.

Individuals Against the Panthers
Both Megan Neuvirth and Sam Schuett posted double-doubles (and fouled out) against UNI last year in CU's overtime loss in Cedar Falls. Neuvirth had 17 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals for her first career double-dime and Schuett added 11 points and 10 rebounds. Schuett averaged 9.0 points and 9.5 rebounds against UNI last year, while Neuvirth averaged 10.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals. Sara Cain (10.0), Kristina Voss (10.0) and Ally Thrall (12.0) also averaged double figure scoring totals against UNI last year. Voss averages 8.8 points against UNI in her career and Thrall averages 8.3.

Welcome Back Warren
UNI head coach Tanya Warren, a 1988 Creighton graduate, spend the last three seasons on the CU bench. Warren is one of two Bluejays in school history to have their number retired - the other, Connie Yori, is also a head coach of an opposing school (Nebraska). The CU Athletics Hall of Famer owns the CU single-season (228) and career (650) assists record. Warren replaced Tony DiCecco on the UNI bench. UNI also hired DiCecco away from the Creighton coaching staff.

Upon Further Review
The initial postgame box score at Southern Illinois (Jan. 20) listed Creighton with no steals in its overtime loss. Upon further review, the box score had failed to record an SIU turnover and a steal by Kelsey Woodard in the first half, meaning the Bluejays did not go an entire game without a steal for the first time in over a decade.

Boarding Bluejays
Creighton leads the MVC with 46.4 rebounds per game in conference play, nearly five more per game than second-place Missouri State (41.8). CU's rebounding margin of plus-7.2 in MVC action is second in the league.

Increased Crime Needed
Creighton ranks last in the MVC with 23 steals through five conference games, an average of just 4.6 per contest. Ten of those 23 steals came in one game - against Missouri State on Jan. 6. CU also ranks last in the league in turnover margin in MVC play, with a minus-6.4. The Jays are forcing just 11.4 turnovers per conference game, while averaging 17.8 give-aways.

Three-Point Struggles
After starting the MVC season on fire from behind the three-point line, draining 12 against Wichita State and 11 against Missouri State for a combined 23-of-51 (.451) in their first two Valley games, the Jays have cooled off. In CU's last three games, CU is 9-of-39 (.231) from three-point range, including a 1-for-7 night against Drake.

Working Overtime
Two of Creighton's first five MVC games have gone into overtime. The Bluejays topped Missouri State 79-73 (Jan. 6) at home in their first OT game, while they fell at SIU (Jan. 20) 75-74 in their second. The win over MSU was CU's first overtime win since 2006. The Jays went 0-2 in overtime last year. The Jays are now 8-5 in overtime games under Jim Flanery (since 2002-03).

Career Game for Voss
Junior center Kristina Voss scored a career-high 21 points and added a career-best 13 points for her first collegiate double-double at Southern Illinois (Jan. 20). Voss also played a career-high 36 minutes in the overtime defeat.

Woodard Wows
Freshman Kelsey Woodard poured in a career-high 25 points at Southern Illinois (Jan. 20), including nine of CU's 11 overtime points. She scored the final nine points of the game for CU and 13 of the last 15. Her point total was the highest by a Bluejay freshman since 1993 MVC Freshman of the Year Becky Flynn scored 28 against Bradley on March 1, 1993.

Dynamic Duo
Kristina Voss and Kelsey Woodard combined to have career games against Southern Illinois. Voss scored a career-best 21points and Woodard had a career-high 25 points. The duo became the first pair of Bluejays to score 20 in the same game since Ally Thrall and Woodard's older sister, Kristi, both topped 20 against Wichita State on Jan. 7, 2006.

Turnover Trouble
After opening the MVC season with two wins, the Bluejays have dropped three straight in conference play largely in part to turnovers. In Creighton's last three losses the Jays have committed 60 turnovers for an average of 20 per game. CU's opponents in that span have turned those 60 turnovers into 72 points for an average of 24 points off of turnovers in the three losses. On the year, the Jays are averaging 18.3 turnovers per game and allowing opponents to score 17.9 points per game off of those turnovers.

Moving on Up
Ally Thrall needs just one three-pointer to move into a tie for ninth place on the CU career three-point list. Her next trey will give her 132, equaling Kristi Woodard's total. She is just three behind Angela Timmons (134) for eighth and six behind Krissie Spanheimer (137) for seventh on the CU career list.

Perfect MVC Starts
Sara Cain and Kelsey Woodard have opened MVC play perfect from the free-throw line. Cain has made her first 13 attempts at the line, while Woodard has drained all eight of her shots at the stripe. Woodard did not attempt a free-throw in her first three MVC games and then went 4-for-4 in each of CU's last two games.

She Keeps Going and Going and Going ...
Senior Ally Thrall played all 45 minutes in CU's overtime game at Southern Illinois (Jan. 20). It marked the fourth time in her career she has played all 45 minutes of an OT game and was the 27th “complete game” of her career. She has also played better than 40 minutes in two other OT games, but did not play the entire game in those contests. Thrall, who has led the MVC in minutes played the last two years, again tops the league with 36.4 minutes played per MVC game this season.

Silver Medals
Creighton has three players ranked second in the MVC in statistical categories entering the week. Ally Thrall is second in the MVC, shooting 44.6 percent from three-point range. Kristina Voss ranks second, shooting 55.6 percent from the field. Kelsey Woodard ranks second in free-throw percentage, shooting 89.7 percent at the line.

Kelsey's Conference Numbers
Kelsey Woodard has increased her scoring productivity and rebounding in MVC play. The rookie leads the team with 12.2 points per game in Valley play, while her 5.8 rebounds per MVC game rank second on the team. She is shooting 42.9 percent from the field and 50 percent (11-22) from three-point range in her first five Valley games and has yet to miss a free-throw in league play (8-8).

Bucking the Trend
Creighton's loss at Southern Illinois (Jan. 20) marked its first defeat this season when it shot better than 40 percent. CU had won its first nine games of the year when it made at least 40 percent of its shots, but made 41.8 percent in a 75-74 overtime loss at SIU. The Jays are 0-6 on the season when failing to shoot 40 percent from the field.

Bench Me
Creighton's bench is averaging 26.9 points per game this year, but scored a season-low four points in its loss at Southern Illinois (Jan. 20). Sam Schuett and Kellie Nelson each scored two points, with Nelson making the only field goal off the bench for CU in the defeat. The previous low for the bench this season was 11 at No. 6 Rutgers (Nov. 16). The CU bench has scored at least 43 points in a game four times this season, including 50 against Memphis (Nov. 19). That marked the highest bench output in the Jim Flanery era and was the most bench points scored by the Bluejays since the reserves scored 53 against Northwestern on Dec. 10, 2000.

Close Call
Creighton was limited to a season-low one three-point field goal against Drake (Jan. 12), shooting just 1-for-7 from beyond the arc, after attempting better than 21 treys per game through their first 13. The one trey marked CU's lowest three-point total since going 1-for-4 from long range against Minnesota on Nov. 28, 2004. The one make kept a streak of 221 straight games with a made three-pointer alive, dating back to Dec. 21, 2000. CU last did not make a three-pointer on Dec. 20, 2000, when it went 0-for-11 from downtown against Alabama.

It's Crowded in Here
A hot start, a rivalry game and a pregame promotion at the Omaha Civic Auditorium had the fans turning out for the Creighton-Drake game on Jan. 12. The crowd of 2,437 was the 10th largest crowd in school history and the first crowd of more than 2,000 in three years at a CU home game. It was CU's largest crowd turnout since the 2004 WNIT Championship game, when 4,180 fans showed up to watch the Jays crush UNLV 73-52.

Home Cooking Turns Bad
Creighton opened its home schedule 5-0 this year, while out-scoring opponents by 19 points per game. That all came crashing to an end in a 22-point loss to Drake (Jan. 12). The 73-51 loss was CU's worst home loss under Jim Flanery and the Bluejays' worst home defeat since losing by 25, 84-59, to Missouri State on Dec. 30, 2000.

Thoughts on Thrall
Ally Thrall poured in a career-high 23 points, including seven of CU's eight overtime points, in the Jays win over Missouri State (Jan. 6). She surpassed 900 career points on Jan. 6 and is on pace to become the 19th player in school history to surpass 1,000 career points.

Woodard's Double-Double
Freshman Kelsey Woodard recorded her first career double-double against Missouri State (Jan. 6). She drained a career-best four three-pointers for 12 points and added a career-high 10 rebounds for the double-dime. Three of her 10 boards were offensive and came in OT.

That's the Best Since ...
In CU's dominating 83-47 home win over Wichita State on Jan. 4, the Bluejays put up impressive numbers. The 36-point margin of victory was CU's largest ever in an MVC opener, while it was the Jays' largest margin of victory since beating Missouri State by 37, 84-47, on Jan. 6, 2002. CU's 52 rebounds were the most in a game since grabbing 53 against Louisiana Monroe on Dec. 10, 2005. CU's 27 assists were the most by a Bluejay team since dishing 27 against Northern Iowa on Feb. 24, 1994.

Woodard Named Newcomer Again
For the third time this season, Kelsey Woodard was named the MVC Newcomer of the Week on Jan. 7. The rookie averaged 12.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in her first two conference games, leading the team with 13 points against Wichita State (Jan. 4) and then notching her first career double-double with 12 points and career-high 10 rebounds against Missouri State (Jan. 6).

Freshmen Lead the Way in MVC Debut
The freshman duo of Kellie Nelson and Kelsey Woodard impressed in their MVC debut against Wichita State (Jan. 4). Woodard led the Bluejays with 13 points off the bench, draining her first three three-pointers and finishing 3-for-5 from beyond the arc, while adding five rebounds and four assists. Nelson also came off the bench and scored a career-high 11 points, making 5-of-6 free-throws.

That's Helpful
Creighton dished a season-high 27 assists on its 30 field goals against Wichita State (Jan. 4), the most assists in a game by the Bluejays in 14 years. Four Bluejays had at least four assists in the game, led by Ally Thrall's six. Sam Schuett, Kelsey Woodard and Kelsey Crites each had four helpers in the win, while 10 of 11 Jays recorded an assist in the victory.

By the Boards
Creighton's 52 rebounds against Wichita State (Jan. 4) were its most in over two years. Sam Schuett led the team with 10 caroms, while Sara Cain tied her career-high with nine boards. Kelsey Crites grabbed a career-best eight rebounds.

More Rebounds Than Points Allowed
Creighton pulled off a rare feat in its dismantling of Wichita State on Jan. 4 as the Bluejays pulled down more rebounds than points allowed. CU had 52 rebounds, while allowing just 47 points scored. The Jays also accomplished this in a 47-46 win at Indiana State on Feb. 8, 2004, when they grabbed 48 rebounds in that victory.

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) ranked 53rd on www.collegerpi.com (through games played on Jan. 1). The average non-conference SOS of the other nine teams in the MVC was 158. In the first NCAA RPI report, the Bluejays ranked atop the MVC with an RPI of 49, with Illinois State close behind at 53.

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.

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
L. Spanheimer 4-4 Bradley, 1/30/05
L. Spanheimer 4-4 Oregon St., 12/2/04
Jenny Burns 4-4 Drake, 2/23/03
L. 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

Winning Non-Conference Record
At 7-4, the Bluejays had 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.

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.

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 was named the MVC Newcomer of the Week (Dec. 17). The rookie led a near-upset for the Bluejays at Iowa State (Dec. 16), scoring 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.

Schuett is Player of the Week, Dec. 10
Sam Schuett became the first Bluejay to be named the MVC 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Players Mentioned

Tyrai Bronson

Sara Cain

Kelsey Crites

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