Friday, January 4
Omaha Civic Auditorium
7:05 PM
Creighton University
83
vs
47
Wichita State
Women's Basketball Crushes Shockers, 83-47
1/4/2008 10:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
OMAHA, Neb. ? Four Bluejays scored in double figures as the Creighton women's basketball opened the Missouri Valley Conference season with an 83-47 victory over Wichita State Friday night at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. Freshman Kelsey Woodard led the Bluejays (8-4, 1-0 MVC) with 13 points as Creighton cruised to its largest margin of victory ever in an MVC opener.
After Creighton scored the first four points of the game, the Shockers (6-7, 0-1 MVC) answered with the next five to take their only lead of the game. Megan Neuvirth's only basket of the night gave the Bluejays a lead they would not surrender, up 6-5 five and a half minutes into the game.
With the score tied at 10, CU put together a 12-0 run and finished the half on a 35-10 run to claim a 45-20 lead at the break. The Jays shot 43.9 percent in the opening half and limited WSU to just 24.2 percent from the field. Tyrai Bronson, playing against former high school teammate Daria Frazier of Wichita State, scored all nine of her points in the first half on three three-pointers, to lead the Bluejays through 20 minutes.
The Bluejays captured their largest lead of the season, up 81-41 with less than four minutes to play after an Ally Thrall three-pointer. The Jays would go on to win by 36, their largest margin of victory since topping Missouri State 84-47 on Jan. 6, 2002. The margin of victory far surpassed CU's largest win in a conference opener, which had been 22 on two occasions.
CU improved to 8-0 when shooting at least 40 percent from the field this year, finishing at 44.1 percent (30-68) from the floor and 42.9 percent (12-28) from three-point range. The Jays' 12 three-pointers tied a season high, also accomplished in their last home game against Kansas State.
Woodard led the Jays with 13 points in her Valley debut, making 3-for-5 three-pointers and dishing four assists. Fellow rookie Kellie Nelson also came off the bench and scored a career-best 11 points for the Jays. Senior Sara Cain tied her career-high with nine rebounds and added 11 points, while Kristina Voss made her first five shots on the night and finished with 10 points.
The Bluejays had 27 assists on their 30 field goals, led by Thrall's six helpers. Sam Schuett, Kelsey Crites and Woodard each had four assists. WSU managed only five assists as a team as the Shockers shot just 27.3 percent (18-66) in the game, including an 0-for-10 showing from long range. CU out-rebounded WSU 52-39 ? led by Schuett's 10 ? the Jays most rebounds since pulling down 53 against UL-Monroe on Dec. 10, 2005. Crites added a career-best eight caroms.
All 11 Bluejays played at least nine minutes and scored in the game. CU's 27 assists were a season-high and the most since dishing 27 against Northern Iowa on Feb. 24, 1994.
The Bluejays return to action on Sunday when they play host to Missouri State (2-10, 0-1 MVC). The Lady Bears opened the MVC season with a 72-42 loss at Drake on Friday night. CU and MSU will tip off at the Civic at 2:05 p.m. on Sunday.
After Creighton scored the first four points of the game, the Shockers (6-7, 0-1 MVC) answered with the next five to take their only lead of the game. Megan Neuvirth's only basket of the night gave the Bluejays a lead they would not surrender, up 6-5 five and a half minutes into the game.
With the score tied at 10, CU put together a 12-0 run and finished the half on a 35-10 run to claim a 45-20 lead at the break. The Jays shot 43.9 percent in the opening half and limited WSU to just 24.2 percent from the field. Tyrai Bronson, playing against former high school teammate Daria Frazier of Wichita State, scored all nine of her points in the first half on three three-pointers, to lead the Bluejays through 20 minutes.
The Bluejays captured their largest lead of the season, up 81-41 with less than four minutes to play after an Ally Thrall three-pointer. The Jays would go on to win by 36, their largest margin of victory since topping Missouri State 84-47 on Jan. 6, 2002. The margin of victory far surpassed CU's largest win in a conference opener, which had been 22 on two occasions.
CU improved to 8-0 when shooting at least 40 percent from the field this year, finishing at 44.1 percent (30-68) from the floor and 42.9 percent (12-28) from three-point range. The Jays' 12 three-pointers tied a season high, also accomplished in their last home game against Kansas State.
Woodard led the Jays with 13 points in her Valley debut, making 3-for-5 three-pointers and dishing four assists. Fellow rookie Kellie Nelson also came off the bench and scored a career-best 11 points for the Jays. Senior Sara Cain tied her career-high with nine rebounds and added 11 points, while Kristina Voss made her first five shots on the night and finished with 10 points.
The Bluejays had 27 assists on their 30 field goals, led by Thrall's six helpers. Sam Schuett, Kelsey Crites and Woodard each had four assists. WSU managed only five assists as a team as the Shockers shot just 27.3 percent (18-66) in the game, including an 0-for-10 showing from long range. CU out-rebounded WSU 52-39 ? led by Schuett's 10 ? the Jays most rebounds since pulling down 53 against UL-Monroe on Dec. 10, 2005. Crites added a career-best eight caroms.
All 11 Bluejays played at least nine minutes and scored in the game. CU's 27 assists were a season-high and the most since dishing 27 against Northern Iowa on Feb. 24, 1994.
The Bluejays return to action on Sunday when they play host to Missouri State (2-10, 0-1 MVC). The Lady Bears opened the MVC season with a 72-42 loss at Drake on Friday night. CU and MSU will tip off at the Civic at 2:05 p.m. on Sunday.
Players Mentioned
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