Women's Hoops Opens MVC Play at Illinois State

Game 12 at Illinois State ? Thursday, Jan. 1 ? 2:05 p.m.
Creighton Bluejays at Illinois State Redbirds
Redbird Arena ? Normal, Ill.
Radio: 88.9 FM, www.kvss.com ? Video: www.gocreighton.com
Series History: Creighton leads 24-13
Last Meeting: ISU won 68-60 in St. Charles, Mo., March 15, 2008

? The game can be heard on Spirit 88.9 FM (KVSS) and online at www.kvss.com. Brad Burwell and Rob Simms will call the action.

? Live stats and live video for this game and select road games can be found on the CU athletics website at www.gocreighton.com.

? Monday's game at North Dakota State was Jim Flanery's 200th as a head coach.

? Creighton is 11-5 all-time in MVC openers and 11-5 all-time in MVC road openers.

? Through games played on Dec. 22, Creighton's strength of schedule ranked 40th among the 341 Division I programs. The average SOS of the other nine MVC schools stood at 178.

? Creighton ranked 10th in the nation in fewest turnovers per game (14.0) in the NCAA statistical report on Dec. 22.

? Megan Neuvirth was named the MVC Player of the Week (Dec. 22) after averaging 22 points, 13.5 rebounds, 4.5 blocks, 3.5 assists and 3.0 steals per game in wins over UC Davis and Colorado State.

? Chevelle Herring scored a career-high 31 points against Kansas (Dec. 13), moving her scoring average to 22.6 per game against Big 12 opponents this season.

? CU has won four of its last six meetings with Illinois State in Redbird Arena.

Scouting the Bluejays (5-6, 0-0 MVC)

While Creighton started the year 5-6, half of its losses came to ranked teams and five of the six came against Big 12 foes ... CU has the strongest strength of schedule in the MVC ... The Jays were picked to finish second in the MVC this year after a 21-12 record last year and a trip to the second round of the WNIT ... CU ranks 10th in the NCAA with 14.0 turnovers per game and is 24th in the nation with 7.0 three-pointers per game ... Junior Megan Neuvirth leads the MVC and is 23rd in the NCAA with 10.3 rebounds per game, while she tops the team in assists, steals and blocked shots ... Neuvirth scored a career-high 26 points against UC Davis (Dec. 20) and leads the team with four double-doubles ... Junior Chevelle Herring leads the team and ranks second in the MVC with 16.6 ppg ... Herring, Neuvirth and Kelsey Woodard rank 1-2-3 in minutes played in the MVC.

Scouting the Redbirds (9-3, 0-0 MVC)

Illinois State is the unanimous preseason MVC favorite after sharing the regular-season title and winning the MVC tournament last year ... The Redbirds lead the MVC and rank 20th in the NCAA, averaging 77.6 points per game, including three games with at least 90 points ... ISU also leads the MVC in field goal percentage (.462), assists, assist-to-turnover ratio and turnover margin ... Two-time MVC Player of the Year Kristi Cirone leads the team and MVC with 17.9 ppg, while adding 5.5 assists ... All-MVC guard Maggie Krick adds 14.3 ppg and Shala Jackson chips in 10.3 ppg.

The Coaches

Jim Flanery (Creighton, 1987) has led his team to four WNIT postseason appearances and three 20-win seasons in his first six seasons at Creighton. In 2003 he became the winningest rookie coach in school and MVC history and led the Jays to the 2004 WNIT Championship. Now in his seventh season at CU, his overall mark is 114-86 (.570). Prior to serving as CU's head coach, Flanery served as C U 's top assistant for a decade. Robin Pingeton (St. Ambrose, 1990) is in her sixth season at Illinois State, where she is 98-68 as a Division I head coach. She also coached at St. Ambrose for eight years and is now 292-144 as a collegiate head coach.

CU-ISU Series History

Creighton leads the all-time series with Illinois State, 24-13. The Jays are 7-10 in Normal all-time, including 4-2 in their last six trips to Redbird Arena. Jim Flanery is 10-5 against the Redbirds all-time. CU swept the regular-season from the Redbirds last year, but ISU topped the Jays in the MVC Tournament semifinals. CU knocked off the Redbirds in Normal, 75-71, last year as ISU was ranked No. 24 at the time. The Jays have won three of the last four meetings with ISU, following a four-game losing streak to the Redbirds.

Last Year vs. Illinois State

Creighton defeated No. 24 Illinois State, 75-71, in Normal on Feb. 2 and then knocked off the

Redbirds 80-77 in overtime on Feb. 29 in Omaha. ISU tripped up the Jays 68-60 in the MVC Tournament. Kelsey Woodard led all players with 20 points CU's win at Redbird Arena last year. Ally Thrall and Sara Cain led the Jays to victory in Omaha as Thrall scored a career-best 26 points, Cain logged her first career double-double with 15 points and career-best 14 boards. CU shot 31 percent in its loss to ISU, as Maggie Krick led ISU to victory with 15 points. Kristina Voss had 17 points and 11 boards, while Megan Neuvirth had 11 rebounds, but no points in the loss.

Individuals vs. Illinois State

Kelsey Woodard averaged 14.3 points per game against ISU last year, shooting 51.6 percent

from the field, including 61.9 percent from inside the three-point arc. Krisina Voss averaged

12.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game against ISU last year, while Megan Neuvirth led the Jays with 8.3 rebounds per game against the Redbirds. In her career, Neuvirth averages 7.0 points and 7.7 rebounds per game against ISU. Chevelle Herring didn't play last year, but is shooting 16-of-31 (.516) in five career games against ISU.

Long Trip

Creighton concluded non-conference play at North Dakota State on Dec. 29. Rather than return home following its game in Fargo, CU traveled to the Twin Cities for a day before heading to Normal, Ill., for its MVC opener against Illinois State on New Year's Day. The Jays next head over to Terre Haute, Ind., on Jan. 2 for a Jan. 3 meeting with Indiana State. The Jays will then travel back to Omaha. Total mileage on the bus for Creighton during the week-long trip ? 1,840.

Players Mentioned

Sara Cain

Chevelle Herring

Megan Neuvirth

Ally Thrall

Kristina Voss

Kelsey Woodard

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