Women's Basketball Looks to Bounce Back at Missouri State Sunday
2/26/2011 1:14:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Creighton Bluejays at Missouri State Lady Bears
JQH Arena • Springfield, Mo.
Links: Audio (1180 AM) | Live Stats
TV: Fox Sports Midwest
Series History: Missouri State leads 28-16
Last Meeting: Creighton won 68-56, Jan. 27, 2011 in Omaha
JQH Arena • Springfield, Mo.
Links: Audio (1180 AM) | Live Stats
TV: Fox Sports Midwest
Series History: Missouri State leads 28-16
Last Meeting: Creighton won 68-56, Jan. 27, 2011 in Omaha
• This game will be televised on the MVC TV package. The contest will air live on Fox Sports Midwest, Fox Sports Indiana, Fox Sports Kansas City, Fox College Sports and Comcast SportsNet Chicago, with Scott Warmann and Jill Hutchison on the call.
• The game can be heard on KOIL AM 1180 in Omaha and online at www.koilam1180.com. Brad Burwell and Rob Simms will call the action.
• Live stats for this game and select road games can be found on the CU athletics website at www.gocreighton.com.
• Creighton's 25 turnovers against Wichita State on Friday night were the most the Bluejays' have committed in MVC play since committing 27 turnovers against Evansville on Jan. 22, 2006.
• Creighton entered the weekend on a three-game winning streak, shooting 48.4 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range, but shot 38 percent from the field and 27.8 percent in its loss at Wichita State Friday night.
• Carli Tritz has scored in double figures 17 times this year, the most by a Bluejay freshman since Laura Spanheimer (21) in 2001-02.
• Tritz has won the MVC Newcomer of the Week honor a record eight times this season, including each of the last two weeks. She and teammate Sarah Nelson account for 10 of the 15 Newcomer of the Week winners this year.
• Creighton scored a season-high 44 points in the first half against Missouri State on Jan. 27, while its 23-point halftime lead over MSU was its largest of the season.
• CU is 16-28 all-time against MSU, including 3-18 in Springfield. The Jays have won four of the last six meetings with the Lady Bears.
Scouting the Bluejays (18-9, 12-4 MVC)
Creighton, which has finished second or higher in the MVC in five of Jim Flanery's first eight seasons, is once again positioned to finish high in the standings ... The Bluejays have won eight of their last nine games and are on their best three-game offensive stretch in six years ... CU leads the MVC with 14.7 assists per game and a 1.05 assist-turnover ratio ... The Jays rank 12th in the NCAA in fewest turnovers per game (14.1) and 19th in the nation in assist-turnover ratio ... Senior Kelsey Woodard is averaging 15 points per game over her last eight and leads the team with 13.3 ppg, 55 3FG and 90.9 free throw percentage ... Eight-time MVC Newcomer of the Week, Carli Tritz tops the team with 83 assists and 62 steals and is the top-scoring freshman in the MVC, averaging 10.9 points per game, including 11.8 ppg in Valley play ... First-team all-MVC forward, senior Sam Schuett (10.3 ppg) leads the team with 7.2 rebounds per game and her 840 career rebounds are tops among active MVC players ... Freshman Sarah Nelson has twice earned MVC Newcomer of the Week honors this year and leads the team with 24 blocked shots.
Scouting the Lady Bears (18-9, 9-6 MVC)
Missouri State is just 2-4 in its last six games, including losses in two of its last three home games ... MSU is 11-4 at home this season, averaging 3,395 fans ... The Lady Bears lead the MVC and rank fifth in the NCAA with 6.0 blocked shots per game and rank eight in the nation in field-goal percent defense (.339) ... MSU is third in the MVC in scoring (67.9) and defense (60.6), while ranking ninth in three-point percentage (.299) ... Reigning MVC Player of the Year Casey Garrison leads the team with 18.1 points per game, 92 assists and 43 steals. She leads the NCAA, shooting 92.9 percent at the free-throw line ... Christiana Shorter leads the MVC with 8.3 rebounds per game, adding 12.4 points per game ... Jasmine Malone adds 10.4 ppg and Jaleshia Roberson leads the team with 38 three-pointers ... Tia Mays (4.3 ppg) leads the MVC and ranks fifth in the NCAA with 89 blocked shots.
The Coaches
Jim Flanery (Creighton, 1987) is in his ninth season as head coach at his alma mater, where he has led his team to six WNIT postseason appearances and five 20-win seasons. He owns a career record of 170-112 (.603), for the highest winning percentage by a coach in program history. In 2003 he became the winningest rookie coach in school and MVC history and led the Jays to the 2004 WNIT Championship. Prior to serving as CU's head coach, Flanery served as CU's top assistant for a decade. Flan is 8-11 against Missouri State in his career, the only MVC team he has a losing record against. Nyla Milleson (Kansas State, 1985) is in her fourth season at Missouri State and 11th year as a collegiate head coach. She is 61-59 (.506) at MSU and 246-95 (.723) as a head coach. Milleson guided Division II Drury to five NCAA Tournament appearances in seven seasons prior to moving across town to Missouri State.
Creighton-Missouri State Series History
Missouri State leads the all-time series with the Bluejays, 28-16, but the Jays have won four of the last six meetings. Creighton is just 3-18 all-time in Springfield, including 1-1 inside JQH Arena, with CU out-scoring MSU 138-131 in its new home. The Bluejays are 7-5 against Missouri State in their last dozen meetings. Head coach Jim Flanery is 8-11 against MSU, the only MVC team he does not have a winning record against. Flanery is 6-4 when matched up against fourth-year MSU coach Nyla Milleson.
Last Time Against Missouri State
Creighton jumped out to a 25-10 lead and never trailed in the 68-56 win on Jan. 27 in Omaha. The Jays scored a season-high 44 points in the first half and their 21-point lead at the break was their largest of the season. CU forced 14 first-half turnovers and held Casey Garrison to just six first-half point. CU made 7-of-13 three-pointers in the first half to take control of the game. Kelsey Woodard scored 14 of her season-high 25 points in the first half and finished 5-for-10 from three-point range. Carli Tritz dished a career-high eight assists and scored 16 points. Kellie Nelson added a season-high eight rebounds and 10 points. Garrison finished with 24 points as the only Lady Bear in double figures.
Individuals Against the Lady Bears
Kelsey Woodard averages 13.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game in her career against Missouri State. She is 21-of-54 (.389) from three-point range against MSU, including 5-of-10 this year. Sam Schuett average 14 points per game against MSU last year and averages 10.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game against the Lady Bears in her career, shooting 47.2 percent (17-36) from three-point range. Kellie Nelson averaged 11.5 points and 7.5 rebounds against MSU last year and now averages 6.1 poitns and 4.0 boards against the Lady Bears in her career. Carli Tritz had a career-high eight assists against MSU last month in Omaha.
Flanery On Top of The Valley
Since taking over as the Bluejay head coach for the 2002-03 season, Jim Flanery has led the Bluejays to more Missouri Valley Conference wins than any other program in that span. See the chart below for records in regular-season MVC games since 2002-03.
MVC Records Since 2002-03
Records through Feb. 23
School W-L Pct.
Creighton 105-54 .660
Northern Iowa 96-63 .604
Indiana State 95-63 .601
Illinois State 94-64 .595
Drake 88-71 .553
Missouri State 87-71 .551
Bradley 71-88 .447
Evansville 64-94 .405
Wichita State 50-108 .316
Southern Illinois 42-116 .266
Flan Captures 100th MVC Win
Head coach Jim Flanery won his 100th career MVC game against Wichita State (Jan. 29), becoming the seventh coach in league history to reach that milestone.
Most MVC Coaching Wins (league games)
Name, School Wins Years
Cheryl Burnett, MSU 201 1988-02
Cindy Scott, SIU 199 1983-98
Jill Hutchison, ILS 170 1983-99
Tony DiCecco, UNI 117 1996-07
Lisa Bluder, DU 116 1991-00
Connie Yori, CU 109 1992-02
Jim Flanery, CU 105 2002-pr.
Another Winning Note for Flan
Jim Flanery captured his 170th career win against Illinois State (Feb. 19), tying his predecessor Connie Yori's Creighton total. Yori tallied 170 wins in 10 seasons at Creighton, Flanery is in his ninth year. Current CU athletics director Bruce Rasmussen owns the school record with 196 career wins.
Creighton Coaching Wins
Name Wins Seasons
Bruce Rasmussen 196 12
Jim Flanery 170 9
Connie Yori 170 10
Gaye Kinnett 33 3
Eddye McClure 26 3
Howard Faber 11 1
Show-Me Stater
Freshman Jordan Garrison will get to play in her home state of Missouri for the first time this Sunday, as the rookie grew up just 65 miles north of Springfield in Osceola. The 5-foot-5 guard missed all of the non-conference season with a leg injury and made her collegiate debut against Evansville (Jan. 6), knocking down a three-pointer in her first game. Garrison owns the Osceola High School record with better than 2,600 career points.
70-70-70
Creighton scored at least 70 points in its three games prior to playing at Wichita State on Friday – the first time the Jays have scored 70 points in three straight games since Jan. 20-26, 2008. Prior to this stretch, the Jays hadn't scored 70 points in regulation in three straight games since Nov. 19-24, 2007. CU is looking to put together four straight 70-point games for the first time since Jan. 27 – Feb. 6, 2005.
Big Wins
Eight of Creighton's first 12 MVC wins this season have come by double digits, including last Saturday's largest winning margin for the Bluejays in MVC play this year, a 71-44 thrashing of Illinois State. That 27-point margin of victory marked the fourth largest in MVC play under Jim Flanery.
Largest MVC Winning Margins
Under Jim Flanery (since 2002-03)
Opponent Date Score Margin
Wichita State 1-7-10 89-48 41
Wichita State 1-4-08 83-47 36
Missouri State 1-8-09 92-63 29
Illinois State 2-19-11 71-44 27
Evansville 1-6-11 81-55 26
Evansville 1-14-10 63-37 26
Impressive Numbers Within 3-Game Streak
Creighton entered the weekend on a three-game winning streak, having compiled some impressive numbers. The Bluejays' shooting percentages over their last three games are the best shooting percentages over any three-game span they've had since 2005.
• The Bluejays are shooting 48.3 percent (75-of-155) from the field over the past three games, including 27-of-54 (.500) from three-point range. The Jays have not shot that well from the field over a three-game span since Jan. 30 – Feb. 4, 2005, when they shot 51.9 percent from the field in that stretch.
• Creighton is averaging 18.7 assists per game over its last three games.
• The Jays are averaging 19 points per game off of turnovers in the last three games, forcing 17 turnovers per game, while committing just 13.7 per game in the last three.
• Creighton's bench scored 34 points against Illinois State (Feb. 19) and have out-scored the opposition's bench 82-35 in the last three games.
Threes Fallin
Creighton equalled its season-high with 12 three-pointers against Bradley (Feb. 12) and shot a season-high 57.1 percent from three-point range against the Braves. The Bluejays are now 27-of-54 (.500) from three-point range over their last three games after making 9-of-17 (.529) against Illinois State (Feb. 19).
20-20-20-20 Vision
Creighton has won at least 20 games in each of its previous three seasons. In school history, every time the Jays have won 20 games in a season, it has come in groups of at least three – winning at least 20 in three straight years (1985-87), four straight years (1991-94), three straight years (2002-04) and now again in three straight (2008-10). The Bluejays have won 20 games in five of Jim Flanery's first eight seasons as head coach. Flan is looking to become the first Bluejay head coach to lead a team to four straight 20-win seasons, as Connie Yori and Bruce Rasmussen split the previous four-consecutive 20-win season streak (1991-94).
Tritz Sets (and adds to) MVC Record
Freshman Carli Tritz has been named the MVC Newcomer of the Week eight times this season, setting an MVC record by breaking the former mark of six honors set by teammate Kelsey Woodard in 2007-08. Tritz's most recent honor came on Monday after she averaged 11.5 points, 4.0 assists and 3.0 steals per game against Indiana State and Illinois State last week. The rookie guard has been honored on Nov. 29, Dec. 13, Dec. 27, Jan. 3, Jan. 10, Jan. 31, Feb. 14 and Feb. 21.
Tritz in Double Figures
Carli Tritz has scored in double figures 17 times during her freshman season, the most by a Bluejay rookie during Jim Flanery's tenure, surpassing the 15 double figure games Kelsey Woodard posted as a rookie in 2007-08. Prior to Tritz, the last freshman to notch more than 15 double figure scoring games in a season was Laura Spanheimer with 21 in 2001-02.
Stop at 60
Creighton is 32-2 over the last two seasons when holding opponents under 60 points and just 7-17 when opponents score 60 or more. In 21 of Creighton's first 29 games played at D.J. Sokol Arena, the Bluejays have held opponents below 60 points, with 20 of those games resulting in a win (only loss was 58-57 to UNI earlier this season). The Jays' have allowed 60 points in only one of their last 18 MVC wins – the 71-62 win over Indiana State on Feb. 17.
Home is Where the Wins Are
Creighton is 24-5 (.828) all-time at D.J. Sokol Arena, with a 12-2 record this year after posting a 12-3 home record last year. The Bluejays are now 96-30 (.762) at home under Jim Flanery (since 2002-03), including 64-17 (.790) in MVC play at home under Flanery. Creighton has won 35 of its last 42 home games, with two of those seven losses coming at Qwest Center Omaha.
Defense at D.J.
With a 12-2 mark in their home arena this year, the Bluejays are 24-5 all-time at D.J. Sokol Arena. In those 29 games, the Bluejays have allowed less than 60 points points 21 times – including 11 of 14 games this year. Bluejay opponents are averaging just 55.4 points per game in the 29 games played inside D.J. Sokol Arena, while the Jays are averaging 65.4 points per game in their new home venue.
Our Freshmen Are Good
Carli Tritz (8) and Sarah Nelson (2) have both earned multiple MVC Newcomer of the Week honors this year, with Tritz setting a league record with her seven honors. The freshman duo has now won 10 of the 15 Valley Newcomer of the Week awards this season.
Nelson Newcomer of the Week (x2)
Sarah Nelson was named MVC Newcomer of the Week for the second time this season on Feb. 7 after averaging 9.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. She had 14 points and a career-high three blocked shots in playing a career-best 35 minutes against Evansville (Feb. 5). She was named the MVC Newcomer of the Week on Jan. 24 after averaging 14 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game. The freshman had a career-high 17 points in 14 minutes at Illinois State (Jan. 20).
Schuett Reaches 800, Ranks Third at CU
With 840 career rebounds, Sam Schuett has become just the fourth player in school history and the 22nd player in MVC history to reach 800 career boards. She recently moved past Creighton Hall of Famer Shannon Struby's 824 to rank third in school history in rebounding. She is the active MVC leader in career rebounds, as she now ranks 17th in league history in rebounding.
Woodard Cracks Two Top Ten Lists
Kelsey Woodard has moved into the Creighton career top-10 in scoring and the MVC career top-10 for three-point field goals. Woodard's 1,426 points stand alone in 10th, moving past Creighton Hall of Famer Becky Flynn (1,356). Her 248 career three-pointers (which rank fourth in CU history) are tied for ninth in MVC history to start the week.
Ahead at Half
The Bluejays are 14-0 when leading at halftime this year and have now won 18 straight games when leading at the half. Creighton has trailed at halftime in 10 games this year, but has come-from-behind to win three of those games – equalling the number of wins it had when trailing at halftime last year (3-8).
Fast Start Leads to Nice Finish
Creighton scored a season-high 44 points in the first half of its 68-56 win over Missouri State (Jan. 27). The Jays led 44-23 at the break for their largest halftime lead of the season.
Woodard Wows
Kelsey Woodard poured in a season-high 25 points against Missouri State (Jan. 27), equalling the highest scoring game by a Bluejay over the past two seasons. Her 25 points also established a D.J. Sokol Arena high for a Bluejay. The senior drained 5-of-10 three-pointers in the win. After making 5-of-9 threes at Bradley (Feb. 12), she has made at least five triples in a game 10 times in her career and she has scored 20 points in a game four times this season, 12 times in her career.
Creighton Values Its Possessions
Despite losing its starting point guard, Creighton remains among the NCAA elite in fewest turnovers per game. The Bluejays rank 12th in the NCAA this week, averaging just 14.1 turnovers per game. In each of the previous two seasons, the Jays have also finished in the top-25 nationally in fewest turnovers per game, ranking 22nd last year and eighth during the 2008-09 season. The Jays committed a season-low six turnovers at South Dakota (Dec. 2), tied for the fewest committed under head coach Jim Flanery.
Working Overtime
Creighton played its first overtime game of the year and the first overtime game in D.J. Sokol Arena history in a 50-48 win over Wichita State on Jan. 29. The win moved Creighton to 12-7 in overtime games under Jim Flanery. The Jays have won their last four overtime games and won their last four overtime games in conference play.
Balanced Attack
Creighton posted a season-high 15 steals against Southern Illinois (Feb. 3), its most steals since in a game since March 5, 2009. DaNae Moore had a career-high five steals and Ally Jensen swiped a career-best four steals in the win, while seven Bluejays had at least one steal in the win. All 11 active Bluejays played at least 10 minutes in the blowout win.
Carli's Clutch
In two games this season, a pair of Carli Tritz free throws late in the game have provided the winning margin for the Bluejays. Tritz not only made the game-winning free throws with 4.2 seconds left in overtime to give the Jays a 50-48 win over Wichita State (Jan. 29), but she also made the game-tying free throws with 11.5 seconds on the clock in regulation against the Shockers. In the second home game of her career, Tritz's free throws with 14.3 seconds left lifted the Jays to a 63-61 win over now nationally-ranked Marquette (Nov. 28).
Leading vs. Losing
Creighton never trailed in its win over Southern Illinois on Feb. 3, the fourth time this season the Jays have not trailed in a home game. Of Creighton's 24 wins at D.J. Sokol Arena, seven of them have come with the Bluejays never playing from behind. The Jays have won more games (7) where they have never trailed at their new home, than they have lost at D.J. Sokol Arena (5).
X-X First-Half Leads to X-X Finish
Creighton started MVC play with a 7-2 record for the third straight season. The previous five times CU had at least seven wins in the first half of conference play, it finished first or second in the league. This marks the 16th time in 19 seasons as a member of the MVC that the Jays have posted a winning record through the first half of the league schedule. CU had an identical first and second-half MVC record in 2007-08 and 2008-09, but has not had a better second half record than first half since 2002-03 – its last regular-season championship.
MVC MVC MVC
Season 1st Half Overall Finish
2010-11 7-2 12-3 ??
2009-10 7-2 13-5 2nd
2008-09 7-2 14-4 2nd
2007-08 6-3 12-6 4th
2006-07 5-4 8-10 6th
2005-06 4-5 5-13 T-9th
2004-05 8-1 13-5 T-2nd
2003-04 8-1 15-3 2nd
2002-03 6-3 13-5 T-1st
2001-02 8-1 16-2 1st
2000-01 5-4 11-7 4th
1999-00 4-5 7-11 6th
1998-99 5-4 9-9 7th
1997-98 7-2 11-7 3rd
1996-97 4-5 7-11 8th
1995-96 6-3 10-8 T-4th
1994-95 6-3 12-6 4th
1993-94 8-0 14-2 2nd
1992-93 7-1 12-4 T-2nd
Longest MVC Home Stand Since 1999
Creighton went a perfect 4-0 during its longest conference home stand since 1999, between Jan. 27 and Feb. 5. Prior to this year, the Jays last played four straight Valley games at home Jan. 21-31, 1999. Earlier this season, CU logged a four-game home stand which served as its longest since that 1999 stint.
Give and Take
Taking hasn't been a problem for freshman Carli Tritz this season, as she quickly established herself as one of the top defenders in the MVC – her 62 steals on the year lead the team and rank second in the league. But her giving has recently been on the rise, as evidenced by her career-high eight assists against Missouri State (Jan. 27). Tritz leads the team with 83 assists this season, but 52 of those assists have come in CU's last dozen games. She is averaging 4.3 assists per game in her last 12, after dishing 31 assists through her first 14 games – 2.2 per contest.
Two Rookie Starters
Creighton has started two freshmen – Carli Tritz and Sarah Nelson – in its last eight games, marking the first time since the 2006-07 season that the Bluejays had started two freshmen in a game, as Megan Neuvirth and Sam Schuett were both starters in the 2007 MVC Tournament championship game at Drake. But it served as the first time under Jim Flanery that two true freshmen were in the starting lineup (Neuvirth was a redshirt in 2006-07). Prior to this season, the last time two true freshmen had started a game at Creighton was Feb. 11, 2001 when Dayna Finch and Christy Neneman started in a 77-52 home win over Illinois State.
Nelson, Tritz Make History
Not only have the freshman duo of Sarah Nelson and Carli Tritz started together in eight games this season, but the pair are the first set of Bluejays to win the MVC Newcomer of the Week award in the same season. Prior to this season, only Megan Neuvirth (2006-07) and Kelsey Woodard (2007-08) had won the award for the Bluejays – which started during the 2003-04 season.
Cold Weather Means Hot Basketball
Creighton went 6-2 in January to move its record to is 52-20 (.722) in January games under head coach Jim Flanery, by far his most successful month. The Jays are 32 games over .500 in January games under Flanery, while they are a combined 27 games over .500 in the other four months on the basketball calendar.
CU No. 13, MSU No. 24 in Mid-Major Top 25
Creighton has been ranked in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll all season and is ranked No. 13 in the most recent poll (Feb. 22). Missouri State is ranked 24th this week, marking the seventh time the Bluejays will face a Mid-Major Top 25 foe this year – the Jays are now 3-3 against the Mid-Major Top 25 this year. Illinois State was ranked in the poll during both of CU's games with the Redbirds and Northern Iowa was ranked 16th when the Jays played at UNI (Feb. 10), becoming the fifth team ranked in the Mid-Major Top 25 the Jays have faced this year. CU topped then eighth-ranked Missouri State on Jan. 27. Two of CU's first three games were against Mid-Major top-10 teams, as the Jays knocked off eighth-ranked Liberty and lost at fifth-ranked Bowling Green. Bowling Green was also receiving votes in the AP Top 25 and the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 to start the season. Creighton peaked with a No. 10 ranking in week nine.
Tritz is Tops
Carli Tritz is the leading scorer in the MVC among all freshmen and newcomers, averaging 11.0 points per game to rank 16th overall. Her 11.9 points per game in MVC games ranks 13th. The rookie ranks second in the MVC with 60 steals on the season. Against Bradley (Jan. 15) she was tops on the team with 17 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals one game after establishing career-highs with 10 rebounds against UNI (Jan. 13). She dished a career-high eight assists against Missouri State (Jan. 27).
Schuett Doubles Up the MVC
Sam Schuett notched her third double-double of the year against Southern Illinois (Feb. 3), with 10 points and 10 rebounds. All three double-doubles have come during MVC play. She now has 16 career double-doubles, 14 of which have come against MVC teams – 12 in the MVC regular-season and two in the MVC Tournament. Four of her 16 career double-doubles have come against Northern Iowa – one each year. Her only two non-conference double-doubles came at UC Davis (Nov. 27, 2009) and Nebraska (Nov. 30, 2007).
The Kamphaus Dozen
Freshman Alyssa Kamphaus scored a career-high 12 points, making all five of her field goal attempts, while playing just seven minutes in her MVC debut at Evansville (Jan. 6). Included in the five makes for the rookie center, was what she claims to be the first three-pointer she has ever made in a game in her life.
Garrison Makes Debut
Freshman guard Jordan Garrison did not play in Creighton's first 12 games, after not dressing for the first 11 because of a stress fracture in her left leg. She dressed, but did not play, against Drake (Dec. 31), before finally making her collegiate debut at Evansville (Jan. 6). The rookie misfired on her first three-point attempt but knocked down her second try for her first career points.
Tritz MVC Debut, Second to One
Carli Tritz scored 15 points in her MVC debut against Drake on Dec. 31. The 15 points in her MVC debut mark the second highest scoring game by a Bluejay in her first Valley game in school history. The only other Bluejay rookie to score more in an MVC debut was Missy Miller with 23 points on Jan. 7, 1993 in Creighton's first ever MVC game. Freshman Becky Flynn also scored 14 points in that same game in 1993, while Laura Spanheimer scored 14 points against SIU on Dec. 30, 2001 in her first Valley game. Tritz also grabbed six rebounds and five steals against Drake.
Non-Con Strength of Schedule is Tops
As it annually does, Creighton again played the strongest non-conference schedule in the MVC. Through non-conference games played on Dec. 28, the Bluejays' strength of schedule (SOS) was 39. Only one other school in the MVC had an SOS of better than 131 – Missouri State's 88. In fact, the other nine teams in the MVC had an average SOS of 182 – 143 spots lower than Creighton's.
Carli Doesn't Play for You
Carli Tritz ranks second in the MVC with 62 steals this year and swiped at least one steal in each of her first 16 career games. She has grabbed at least two steals in all but six games this year, leading the team in steals in 165games. Tritz swiped a career-high six steals at Indiana State (Jan. 22). She topped the team with five steals against Marquette (Nov. 28) and Drake (Dec. 31), becoming the first Bluejay freshman to record five steals in a game since Megan Neuvirth had five in the 2007 MVC Tournament championship game against Drake.
Woodard Named MVC Player of the Week
Kelsey Woodard was named the MVC Player of the Week on Dec. 27 after her performances against North Dakota and Kansas. Woodard averaged 20 points and 3.0 assists per game, making 50 percent of her field goals (14-28) and three-pointers (5-10) in the two contests. It was her second career Player of the Week honor, and first since Feb. 4, 2008.
Bluejays Establish Highs
Creighton enjoyed its highest scoring game in more than seven years on Dec. 20, cruising to a 96-57 win over North Dakota. The 96 points were the most scored by the Jays since winning 96-86 at Siena on March 22, 2003. In addition to the season-high point total, the Jays also put up season-highs in field goals (33), field-goal percentage (.611), three-pointers (12), assists (24), blocked shots (9) and points in the paint (40). CU's 96 points, 33 field goals and 55 points in a half (2nd) all established D.J. Sokol Arena records as well.
Individual Highs
In addition to the multiple team season-best numbers against North Dakota (Dec. 20), several individuals also set career highs in the win. McKenzie Fujan scored a career-best nine points, making 4-of-6 shots. Jasmin Corbin led the team with a career-high five assists.
Scoring in the 90s
Creighton's 96 points in its win over North Dakota (Dec. 20) were the most points scored by the Bluejays in a game since a 96-86 win at Siena on March 22, 2003 in the WNIT. It was the first time the Jays had scored 90 points since a 92-63 win over Missouri State on Jan. 8, 2009. The Jays improved to 8-0 when scoring at least 90 points under Jim Flanery.
If the Schuett Fits
Sam Schuett joined some elite groups of players during Creighton's game with Nebraska (Dec. 8), becoming the 23rd player in school history to surpass 1,000 career points and the seventh player to reach 700 career rebounds. She is the fourth CU player to have both 1,000 points and 800 rebounds in a career.
Kelsey Can Shoot
Kelsey Woodard is one of 23 players in school history with 1,000 career points. Woodard is the second-most accurate free-throw shooter in school history (.857), trailing only her sister Kristi (.862) in that category. She is ranked fourth in school history and ninth in league history with 248 career three-pointers.
Flan Schedules the Big Boys (or Girls)
With Creighton's win over Marquette on Nov. 28, head coach Jim Flanery now has twice as many wins against BCS schools than the next closest MVC school since his first campaign in 2002-03. Flanery's 18 wins against BCS schools in that span are twice as many as Drake (9). In fact, Flan has more wins against BCS schools in that span than Bradley has games played (16) against BCS schools. His 18 wins also equal the number of games played by Evansville, Indiana State and Wichita State against BCS schools in that same span. Creighton's has played 60 games against BCS programs since 2002-03, the next closest MVC school is Drake, which has played 38 games in the same span.
MVC vs. BCS since 2002-03
School Games Wins
Creighton 60 18
Drake 38 9
Illinois State 26 8
Missouri State 29 7
Indiana State 18 6
Northern Iowa 34 4
Wichita State 18 4
Evansville 18 3
Bradley 16 2
Southern Illinois 21 0
Tritz or Treat
Freshman Carli Tritz scored a game-high 21 points against Nebraska (Dec. 8) to become the first Bluejay rookie with a 20-point game since Kelsey Woodard scored 29 against South Dakota State on March 20, 2008. Tritz scored at least 10 points in four straight games (Nov. 20 - Dec. 8), the longest streak by a CU freshman since Sam Schuett scored 10+ points in five straight in 2007. The guard made 4-of-6 three-pointers against Nebraska.
Home Winning Streak Snapped
Creighton's loss to Nebraska (Dec. 8) snapped its nine-game home winning streak – the Bluejays' longest since winning 23 straight at home between the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons.
Bench Impressed
Creighton's bench out-scored the opponent's bench in 10 of its first 11 non-conference games and before its game at No. 18 Notre Dame (Dec. 11), the bench had out-scored the opponent's bench in each of its first seven games. The Irish reserves out-scored CU's bench 34-11. Before that game, the CU bench had out-scored opponents 170-84, highlighted by a 22-0 edge against Marquette (Nov. 28).
Low Scoring Win
Creighton defeated Liberty 40-35 to open the season at the Sheraton Raleigh Wolfpack Invitational on Nov. 12. The 40 points were the fewest scored by the Bluejays in a win since a 40-23 victory over Doane College (Neb.) on Feb. 21, 1977 and the fewest scored overall by the Jays since a 50-35 loss to Eastern Michigan on Dec. 21, 2000. The 35 points for Liberty where the fewest it had scored in a game since Dec. 29, 1993.
Sarah's Solid Start
Freshman Sarah Nelson led the Bluejays with 14 points and 10 rebounds against North Carolina State (Nov. 13). The double-double was the first by a Bluejay freshman since Kelsey Woodard logged her only career double-dime on Jan. 6, 2008 against Missouri State. The rookie led the team in rebounding in three of CU's five games and earned her first career start against North Dakota State on Dec. 18.
Woodard Named All-Tournament Team
Kelsey Woodard led the Bluejays with 10 points per game at the Sheraton Raleigh Wolfpack Invitational, earning her all-tournament recognition at the event. Against Liberty, she drained three three-pointers in the second half to account for all nine of her points and to help CU come from behind and win. She added two more threes and 11 points in the championship game against North Carolina State.
Schuett Lowe's Senior CLASS Candidate
Sam Schuett has been named one of 30 candidates nationally for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award which honors seniors for their efforts on and off the court. CLASS stands for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School and to be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in community, classroom, character and competition. Schuett graduated magna cum laude with a degree in accounting in May, has served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, ranked 12th among CU's 232 student-athletes in community service hours last year and is a first-team all-conference player on the court. Ten finalists for the award will be named in January.
Flock of Freshmen
Half of the Creighton roster is made up of freshmen this season. The six-member freshman class equals the largest rookie class in the nine-year tenure of head coach Jim Flanery, as the 2005-06 team also had six freshmen. All six Bluejay rookies this season are on scholarship, marking the first time since the 1997-98 season that Creighton has at least six freshman on scholarship.
Creighton's Sister Act
One of Creighton's six freshmen is Sarah Nelson, younger sister of Bluejay senior Kellie Nelson, continuing a recent trend of sisters playing for the Jays. Current senior Kelsey Woodard followed in the footsteps of older sister Kristi (2002-06), while Laura (2001-05) and Krissie (1997-01) Spanheimer also had a family tradition at Creighton. The Nelsons however, are just the second recorded sister duo to play alongside each other at Creighton, joining Peggy and Patty Bierle in 1978-79.
Norman to Redshirt
Freshman forward Riley Norman will take a medical redshirt this season after suffering a torn right ACL during preseason work outs. The rookie had surgery on Oct. 18 to repair the knee, which she also injured at the end of her senior year of high school.
Nebraska Natives
For the fourth consecutive season, at least half of Creighton's roster is from Nebraska. Last year the Bluejays started five Nebraskans in 29 of their 32 games, marking the first time in recorded history the Jays had an all-Nebraska lineup in one game - let alone 29. Seven of Creighton's 12 players on this year's roster are from Nebraska – Omaha products Jasmin Corbin (Millard West), Kellie Nelson (Westside), Sarah Nelson (Westside) and Sam Schuett (Millard West), Bellevue native Kelsey Woodard (Bellevue West), Seward High graduate Alyssa Kamphaus and Weston native by way of Wahoo Bishop Neumann, McKenzie Fujan.
Another Tough Schedule
Creighton again plays the toughest non-conference schedule in the MVC, as eight of the Bluejays' 11 non-conference games are against teams which appeared in the postseason last year, including a pair of NCAA Sweet 16 teams. CU hosted 2010 Sweet 16 participant Nebraska on Dec. 8 and then played at Sweet 16 team Notre Dame on Dec. 11. Liberty, Bowling Green and NC State all played in the NCAA Tournament last year. Wyoming, Marquette and Kansas played in the WNIT last year.
Preseason Picks
The Bluejays have been picked to finish third in the MVC preseason poll as voted on by league coaches, media and SIDs. CU received seven first place votes, second only to preseason favorite Missouri State's 27. The Jays earned 328 points in the poll, just one behind second-place Northern Iowa. The Jays have finished even or higher than their predicted finish in six of Jim Flanery's first eight years at the helm.
Updated & Extended Coverage
Fans will notice Creighton home games not only have a new live stats platform, but will also benefit from Creighton's change to BCS Stats. The new live stats provider allows fans to follow the live action on their mobile device at www.gocreightonstats.com. Fans can also find more info on Bluejay athletics on Facebook at the “Official Creighton Athletics Page” and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/gocreighton. The women's basketball team also has its own Facebook page, with inside glimpses into the program. Fans can also read assistant coach Carrie Moore's blog “Tuesdays With Moore” each Tuesday on www.gocreighton.com.
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/ Women's BasketballCreighton Men's Basketball vs. Utah Tech Press Conference - 12/22/25
Tuesday, December 23
Creighton Men's Basketball Highlights vs. Utah Tech - 12.22.25
Tuesday, December 23
Creighton WBB vs Seton Hall Postgame Press Conference 12-22-25
Tuesday, December 23
Creighton Women's Basketball Highlights vs. Seton Hall - 12-22-25
Tuesday, December 23
