Creighton University
Liberty
Women's Basketball Sneaks Past Liberty, 40-35
11/12/2010 4:09:00 PM | Women's Basketball
RALEIGH, N.C. - Kelsey Woodard drained three second-half three-pointers to help the Creighton women's basketball team overcome a four-point halftime deficit and knock off Liberty 40-35 in the second game at the Sheraton Raleigh Wolfpack Invitational at Reynolds Coliseum Friday afternoon. Liberty, an NCAA Tournament team last year, scored just one field goal in the second half, as the team's combined point total of 75 was the lowest scoring women's game in the storied venue's history.
The win pits the Bluejays against the host North Carolina State on Saturday night at approximately 7:30 pm (CST) in the championship game of the event. The CU-NC State game will follow the Liberty-College of Charleston game which tips at 5 pm (CST).
Creighton trailed 28-24 with 12:16 to play in the game after a Jelena Antic free throw. Woodard would step up and make her first three-pointer of the season with 10:32 to snap an eight-minute scoreless drought for the Bluejays. A Sam Schuett steal then set up another Woodard three-pointer on CU's next possession to give the Bluejays a 30-28 lead.
Liberty would reclaim the lead, up 31-30 with 6:21 to play, but Woodard's third three-pointer of the half with 5:34 to play gave the Bluejays back the lead. Creighton would never trail again, though the game would be tied twice more.
Tied at 35, Schuett drained 1-of-2 shots at the free-throw line with 45.2 seconds to play. The Bluejays would call a timeout after Schuett's make and on the ensuing in-bounds play, Liberty threw the ball away. The Jays worked the ball around before Ally Jensen was fouled with 22.4 seconds remaining. The sophomore stepped up and hit a pair of clutch free-throws to give the Bluejays a three-point lead and the Jays would make two more free throws inside of 13 seconds to play to provide for the five-point winning margin.
Liberty made just 1-of-15 shots from the field in the second half and none after the 15:57 mark. The Jays out-scored the Lady Flames 20-11 in the second half.
The Bluejays fell behind 4-0 to start the game, while missing their first four field goals before bouncing back to hit 5-of-10 shots and take a 12-7 lead, the largest lead for either side in the first half. Freshman McKenzie Fujan scored Creighton's first five points of the year, draining a three-pointer to get the CU scoring starter. Liberty's largest lead came at the start and end of the half, owning a 24-20 lead at the break.
Freshman Carli Tritz led the Jays with seven points in the first half. The Bluejays scored 17 of their 24 points in the first half from 12 Liberty turnovers. Creighton committed 14 turnovers of its own in the first half however, leading to seven points for the Lady Flames. Liberty out-scored the Bluejays 18-8 in the paint in the opening half.
Creighton finished even on the glass at 33 with the Lady Flames - a team that led the NCAA in rebounding margin last year and returns four of its starters from an NCAA Tournament team which won 27 games in 2009-10. The Jays had 10 steals in the win, four from Schuett, who also led the team with eight rebounds.
Woodard led the Jays with nine points, all coming in the second half on her three three-point baskets. Tritz finished with eight points for the Jays.
Liberty, which shot just 27 percent from the floor in the loss, was led by Avery Warley's 11 points and eight rebounds.
North Carolina State won the tournament's first game of the day, 73-36, topping College of Charleston.
Creighton and NC State will tip following a 25 minute break after the consolation game of the event.
NOTES: The Bluejays are now 4-5 all-time in season-openers under head coach Jim Flanery ... Woodard now has 196 career three-pointers ... The 35 points scored by Liberty were the fewest by a Bluejay opponent since Drake scored 35 in the MVC Tournament semifinals on March 14, 2009 ... CU's 40 points were its fewest scored since losing 50-35 to Eastern Michigan on Dec. 21, 2000 ... The 40 points were the fewest scored in a Bluejay win since Creighton topped Doane College (Neb.) 40-23 on Feb. 21, 1977 ... Liberty scored its fewest points since a 69-34 loss to Massachusetts on Dec. 29, 1993 ... Liberty did not make a three-pointer in the CU win, the first Bluejay opponent to not make a three-pointer since Wichita State on Jan. 4, 2008 ... Both teams started the season in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25, Creighton at No. 20 and Liberty at No. 8.
