Sunday, December 14
Omaha, Neb.
2:30 PM
Creighton University
4-5,1-0Big East
71
vs
75
Kansas State
7-6,0-0Big 12
1
2
3
4
F
Kansas St.
21
24
12
18
75
Creighton
15
21
13
22
71
Photo by: Creighton Athletics
Second Half Comeback Falls Short for Women’s Basketball in 75-71 Loss to Kansas State
12/14/2025 5:20:00 PM | Women's Basketball
OMAHA, Neb. – Down 53-38 midway through the third quarter, the Creighton women's basketball team rallied back to take a one-point lead in the fourth quarter before falling to Kansas State 75-71 on Dec. 14 inside D.J. Sokol Arena.
The loss drops Creighton to 4-5 on the season, while the Wildcats improved to 7-6 overall, picking up their first win in Omaha since 2005.
Kansas State score the first five points of the game and led 10-2 early before back-to-back three-pointers from Neleigh Gessert and Elizabeth Gentrey cut the deficit to 10-8 with 5:49 remaining in the opening period. The Wildcats answered the quick Bluejay burst by scoring nine of the next 11 points to open up a 19-10 advantage. The Jays responded in the closing moments of the first quarter with a layup from Kendall McGee and a trey from Kennedy Townsend to cut KSU's led to 21-15.
CU opened the second frame with a corner three from Townsend to make the score 21-18, but Kansas State's defensive pressure sparked a 9-2 run to give the Wildcats its first double-digit lead of the contest at 30-20 and forced a Creighton timeout. The two teams traded baskets over the next three and a half minutes, before KSU ended the half with a 7-2 burst to take a 45-36 lead into the locker room.
Kansas State's stifling defense caused havoc for the Bluejays in the first half, turning 10 Bluejay turnovers into a 12-2 advantage in points off of takeaways. Townsend led the way with nine points, while the Wildcats got nine each from Nastia Claessens and Gina Garcia in the first half.
Coming back on the floor, the Wildcats dialed up back-to-back threes from Taryn Sides and Claessens to extend to the lead to 51-36, forcing Creighton to burn an early timeout. CU responded quickly out of the break, cutting the deficit to 53-49 with a 11-0 run, featuring a three from Townsend and a pair of layups from McGee and Zediker. KSU, however, answered with a pair of buckets to close the third period with a 57-49 lead.
Trailing by eight entering the fourth quarter, Creighton stormed all the way back, using an 11-4 run to cut Kansas State's lead down to one at 61-60 with 6:17 remaining in the contest. A pair of free throws from Jordan Speiser gave the Wildcats a 63-60 (5:56) advantage before a pair of Zediker free throws and a layup from Townsend gave the Jays their first lead of the contest at 64-63 with 4:58 remaining.
With Creighton holding a 65-64 lead, Claessen scored five straight points giving the Wildcats a 69-65 edge. Still down four moments later, Creighton got a layup from McGee and a pair of free throws from Townsend to knot things up at 71-71 with 1:12 remaining. Kansas State, however, closed the door with a layup from Speiser and last second free throws from Claessen to secure the 75-71 victory over the Jays.
Claessen led all scorers with a career-high tying 21 points, while Speiser (15) and Izela Arenas (10) each scored in double-figures. Kansas State finished the contest shooting 47.4 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from three-point range, while outscoring the Jays 18-12 in points off of turnovers.
Creighton got a team-high 16 points each from Townsend and Zediker, with both McGee and Gentry contributing 13 and 11 points respectfully. The Jays shot 40.7 percent from the floor and 32.0 percent from behind the arc, while outrebounding the Wildcats 35-34 on the glass.
The Bluejays return to the hardwood on Wednesday, November 17 as Creighton travels across town to battle Omaha at 6:30 p.m. inside Baxter Arena.
The loss drops Creighton to 4-5 on the season, while the Wildcats improved to 7-6 overall, picking up their first win in Omaha since 2005.
Kansas State score the first five points of the game and led 10-2 early before back-to-back three-pointers from Neleigh Gessert and Elizabeth Gentrey cut the deficit to 10-8 with 5:49 remaining in the opening period. The Wildcats answered the quick Bluejay burst by scoring nine of the next 11 points to open up a 19-10 advantage. The Jays responded in the closing moments of the first quarter with a layup from Kendall McGee and a trey from Kennedy Townsend to cut KSU's led to 21-15.
CU opened the second frame with a corner three from Townsend to make the score 21-18, but Kansas State's defensive pressure sparked a 9-2 run to give the Wildcats its first double-digit lead of the contest at 30-20 and forced a Creighton timeout. The two teams traded baskets over the next three and a half minutes, before KSU ended the half with a 7-2 burst to take a 45-36 lead into the locker room.
Kansas State's stifling defense caused havoc for the Bluejays in the first half, turning 10 Bluejay turnovers into a 12-2 advantage in points off of takeaways. Townsend led the way with nine points, while the Wildcats got nine each from Nastia Claessens and Gina Garcia in the first half.
Coming back on the floor, the Wildcats dialed up back-to-back threes from Taryn Sides and Claessens to extend to the lead to 51-36, forcing Creighton to burn an early timeout. CU responded quickly out of the break, cutting the deficit to 53-49 with a 11-0 run, featuring a three from Townsend and a pair of layups from McGee and Zediker. KSU, however, answered with a pair of buckets to close the third period with a 57-49 lead.
Trailing by eight entering the fourth quarter, Creighton stormed all the way back, using an 11-4 run to cut Kansas State's lead down to one at 61-60 with 6:17 remaining in the contest. A pair of free throws from Jordan Speiser gave the Wildcats a 63-60 (5:56) advantage before a pair of Zediker free throws and a layup from Townsend gave the Jays their first lead of the contest at 64-63 with 4:58 remaining.
With Creighton holding a 65-64 lead, Claessen scored five straight points giving the Wildcats a 69-65 edge. Still down four moments later, Creighton got a layup from McGee and a pair of free throws from Townsend to knot things up at 71-71 with 1:12 remaining. Kansas State, however, closed the door with a layup from Speiser and last second free throws from Claessen to secure the 75-71 victory over the Jays.
Claessen led all scorers with a career-high tying 21 points, while Speiser (15) and Izela Arenas (10) each scored in double-figures. Kansas State finished the contest shooting 47.4 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from three-point range, while outscoring the Jays 18-12 in points off of turnovers.
Creighton got a team-high 16 points each from Townsend and Zediker, with both McGee and Gentry contributing 13 and 11 points respectfully. The Jays shot 40.7 percent from the floor and 32.0 percent from behind the arc, while outrebounding the Wildcats 35-34 on the glass.
The Bluejays return to the hardwood on Wednesday, November 17 as Creighton travels across town to battle Omaha at 6:30 p.m. inside Baxter Arena.
Team Stats
KState
CU
FG%
.474
.407
3FG%
.400
.320
FT%
.650
.882
RB
34
35
TO
13
15
STL
10
6
Game Leaders
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
2
Pts
16
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
8
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
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