Bluejay Women Host Missouri State Sunday

Game 13 vs. Missouri State ? Sunday, Jan. 6 ? 2:05 p.m.
Missouri State Lady Bears at Creighton Bluejays
Omaha Civic Auditorium ? Omaha, Neb.
Radio: 88.9 FM, www.kvss.com
Video: www.gocreighton.com
Series History: Missouri State leads 25-11
Last Meeting: MSU won 70-60 in Springfield, Feb. 23, 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 4-0 at home this year, with five Bluejays averaging at least eight points per game in those four wins, led by freshman Kelsey Woodard's 11 points per home game.

? Woodard led the team with 13 points and freshman Kellie Nelson scored a career-best 11 points against Wichita State on Friday.

? CU's 27 assists on 30 field goals Friday marked its most assists since dishing 27 on Feb. 24, 1994 against Northern Iowa.

? CU's 36-point margin of victory on Friday was its largest margin in a win since defeating Missouri State by 37 on Jan. 6, 2002.

? Ally Thrall leads the MVC, shooting 46.8 percent from three-point range, while she is 15-for-22 (.682) from long range over her last five games.

? CU has made 12 three-pointers in each of its last two home games and is shooting 40.7 percent from long range at home.

? CU is 11-25 all-time against Missouri State, including 9-7 in Omaha.

Scouting the Bluejays
Creighton logged a winning non-conference record for the first time since 2004-05 ... CU is 1-0 in MVC play for the sixth time in the last seven years ... CU is undefeated at home this year, shooting 44.5 percent from the field and averaging 77.2 points per game at home ... 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 10.3 points per game ... Sam Schuett leads the team with 6.4 rebounds per game, including 10.5 per game in her last two ... Ally Thrall is averaging 12.4 points per game in her last five contests, shooting 68.2 percent from three-point range in that span ... Megan Neuvirth, the 2007 MVC Newcomer of the Year, tops the team with 1.8 steals per game ... The Jays rank second in the MVC with 15.3 assists per game and top the league, shooting 76.8 percent at the free-throw line ... CU averages 66.8 points per game and allows 62.2 and is 8-0 when shooing at least 40 percent from the field.

Scouting the Lady Bears
The Lady Bears opened MVC play with a 72-42 loss at Drake on Friday night, shooting just 21.7 percent in defeat ... MSU ranks last in the MVC in defense, allowing 77 points per game ... They also rank last in the league in shooting and assists per game, making 34.8 percent of their shots and dishing 9.9 assists per game, while ranking ninth in the league with a 66.1 free-throw percentage ... Junior transfer Maggie Dwyer (Michigan State), a two-time MVC Newcomer of the Week, leads the team in scoring with 13.6 points per game ... Senior all-conference guard Tahnee Balerio averages 10.5 points and a team-best 3.9 assists, as her scoring average is down from 18.5 per game a year ago ... Melissa Busby leads the team with 23 three-pointers on the year to contribute to her 7.3 points per game ... Tiff Terwelp tops the team with 8.0 rebounds 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 95-72 (.569). Prior to serving as CU's head coach, Flanery served as CU's top assistant for a decade. Missouri State is coached by first-year coach Nyla Milleson (Kansas State, 1985). Milleson coached at Springfield-based, NCAA Division II Drury, for seven years prior to coming to MSU. She compiled a 185-36 record at Drury, where the team advanced to the NCAA Tournament five times.

CU-MSU Series
Creighton trails the all-time series with Missouri State, 11-25. The Bluejays are 9-7 against the Lady Bears in Omaha, including two straight victories over MSU at the Civic. Jim Flanery is 3-8 against MSU. The teams each won on their home court last year, MSU winning 70-60 in Springfield in February, while the Jays topped the Bears 61-51 in Omaha last Jan. 25. Sam Schuett and Ally Thrall led the team with 14 points, while Megan Neuvirth added 10 rebounds, seven points, four steals, three assists and three blocked shots in the win in Omaha. Breton Wyett, who left the Lady Bears this year, led MSU with 20 points that day and averaged 18.5 points against CU last year.

Home Sweet Home
Creighton played just three non-conference home games, winning all three. The Jays open MVC play with three straight home games, where they are now 4-0 on the season. CU's average margin of victory at home this year is 22.3, scoring 77.2 points per game and allowing just 55. Five Bluejays are averaging at least eight points per game at home, led by Kelsey Woodard's 11 per game. Sara Cain (9.5), Kristina Voss (9.3), Ally Thrall (8.5) and Michelle Kaus (8.0) all average at least eight points per home game. CU is shooting 44.5 percent from the field and 40.7 percent from three-point range at home this year. The Jays are 53-19 all-time at home under Jim Flanery, including 34-12 in MVC home games.

MVC Openers
Since joining the Missouri Valley Conference in 1993, the Bluejays are now 11-5 in Valley openers, after an 83-47 win over Wichita State on Friday - CU's largest margin of victory ever in an MVC opener. The Jays are now 5-1 in their first MVC game of the year under Jim Flanery. CU improved to 12-4 in their first MVC home game of the year, having won six of their last seven MVC home openers.

2-0, Let's Hope So
Creighton will be looking to start 2-0 in MVC play for the sixth time in the last seven years. The Bluejays opened Valley play with back-to-back wins in each of Jim Flanery's first four years, before beginning MVC play 0-3 last year.

That's the Best Since ...
In CU's dominating 83-47 home win over Wichita State on Friday, 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.

Freshmen Lead the Way in MVC Debut
The freshman duo of Kellie Nelson and Kelsey Woodard impressed in their MVC debut on Friday. 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, equaling her career-best with five rebounds and adding 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 Friday night, 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. The Jays rank second in the MVC with 15.3 assists per game, led by Thrall's 3.3 per game.

By the Boards
Creighton's 52 rebounds against Wichita State on Friday 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 and Kelsey Woodard tied her career-high with five.

Voss on a Roll
Junior Kristina Voss has scored in double figures in three straight games and four of the last five. She scored a career-high 16 points at Oral Roberts, making 7-of-11 shots. The center is averaging 13 points per game over the last three and shooting 68 percent (17-25) from the field in that span. On the year she leads the team, shooting 59.3 percent from the floor.

Balancing Act
CU has a balanced scoring attack this year, as nine players average at least 4.4 points per game. Ten of CU's 11 players play at least 12 minutes per game, while nine average between 12 and 24 minutes. All 11 Bluejays played and scored against Wichita State (Jan. 4), with all playing at least nine minutes, but none more than 25.

Thrall Rests
Senior Ally Thrall has averaged 38.5 minutes per game in the MVC over the last two years. In her 2008 MVC debut, she played just 25 minutes, her fewest minutes in an MVC game since her freshman year when she played at least 25 minutes just six times in a Valley game. She has led the MVC in minutes played in each of the last two seasons, doing 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.

The Ally Way
Senior point guard Ally Thrall leads the MVC by making 46.8 percent of her three-pointers this year. She is 15-for-22 (.682) from three-point range in her last five games, after starting the season 7-for-25 (.280) through her first seven contests. Thrall is averaging 12.4 points per game in her last five contests, including 18 points and a 5-for-5 performance from three-point range against Kansas State (Dec. 18).

More Rebounds Than Points Allowed
Creighton pulled off a rare feat in its dismantling of Wichita State on Friday - 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.

Two Dozen Three-Pointers
Creighton has made a season-high 12 three-pointers in each of its last two home games - against Wichita State on Friday night and Kansas State (Dec. 18). The dozen trifectas against K-State marked the most threes by the Bluejays since making 12 against Missouri State on Feb. 2, 2006. The Jays have now made at least 12 three-pointers in a game 11 times under Jim Flanery and are 8-3 in such games since 2002-03.

Hot Shots From Three
Creighton has exploded for 12 three-pointers in each of its last two home games. The Jays have now made at least nine three-pointers in a game five times this season. CU has upped its three-point percentage to 34.6 on the year. In the five games the Jays have made at least nine treys, they are shooting 45.7 percent (53-116) from beyond the arc. In the seven games they have not made nine trifectas, the Jays are shooting just 25.5 percent (36-141) from beyond the arc.

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 was next closest.

Over the Hill at 40
A defining number has popped up in Creighton's first 12 games this year - 40. When the Bluejays shoot 40 percent or better from the field, they are 8-0 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 eight wins, the Jays are shooting 44.7 percent from the floor and 37.1 percent from long range.

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. Nine different players average at least 4.4 points per game for the Jays this year.

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.

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 10-for-24 (.417) from beyond the arc.

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.

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

Bench Me
Creighton's bench is averaging 29.1 points per game this year, scoring at least 43 points off the bench four 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 marked the highest bench output in the Jim Flanery era, topping the 41 points the 2002-03 bench twice put up. In fact, it was 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 29.1 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

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 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 78-16 when leading at halftime since 2002-03.

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 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.

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 124 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.

Players Mentioned

Tyrai Bronson

Sara Cain

Kelsey Crites

Katie Frank

Chevelle Herring

Michelle Kaus

Jess Lammers

Kellie Nelson

Megan Neuvirth

Sam Schuett

Ally Thrall

Kristina Voss

Kelsey Woodard

Related Videos