Sunday, March 1
Cincinnati, Ohio
12:00 PM
Creighton University
at
Xavier
Photo by: Creighton Athletics
WBB Preview: Bluejays Close Out Regular Season at Xavier
2/28/2026 6:20:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Omaha, Neb. -- Creighton Women's Basketball closes out the regular season on Sunday, March 1 at Xavier with a chance to head to the BIG EAST Tournament as a top-five seed with a win and some help. The Bluejays face the Musketeers on ESPN+ at 12:00 pm (CT).
Series with Xavier: Bluejays lead 21-2
Home: 11-0 Away: 10-2 Neutral: 0-0
Creighton and Xavier have met 23 times, with the BluejaysÂ
claiming 21 contests, including the last 17 games.Â
Date  Opponent  Score
1/15/14  Xavier  W, 79-50
2/18/14  at Xavier  W, 70-61
1/2/15  at Xavier  L, 65-66
1/30/15  Xavier  W, 74-65
1/8/16  Xavier  W, 74-47
2/7/16  at Xavier  L, 55-57
12/30/16  Xavier  W, 63-52
2/24/17  at Xavier  W, 67-57
1/22/18  at Xavier  W, 71-64 (ot)
2/16/18  Xavier  W, 65-54
1/18/19  Xavier  W, 66-62 (ot)
2/17/19  at Xavier  W, 53-52
1/24/20  Xavier  W, 62-55
2/23/20  at Xavier  W, 76-62
1/3/21  at Xavier  W, 53-50
1/2/22  at Xavier  W, 67-51
2/11/22  Xavier  W, 62-47
11/25/22  at Xavier  W, 57-51
2/12/23  Xavier  W, 73-53
2/6/24  at Xavier  W, 77-46
2/27/24  Xavier  W, 99-57
12/4/24  at Xavier  W, 82-54
1/20/26  Xavier  W, 82-64
About Xavier
Scouting Xavier (11-17, 4-15 BIG EAST)
The Musketeers have dropped 10 of their last 11 games, including the last six contests.
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Two Xavier players enter the game with Creighton averaging double figures, Mariyah Noel (15.1 ppg) and MacKenzie Givens (11.6 ppg).
The Musketeers have made a significant jump this season, posting four BIG EAST wins. Xavier had just one conference win combined in the previous three seasons.
Scouting Creighton (14-14, 10-9 BE)
Returning to .500 for the second time this season, Creighton was also 12-12, the Bluejays have won consecutive games. The Bluejays' two victories have come without talented freshman Neleigh Gessert who has been sidelined by a foot injury.
Against Providence the Bluejays got a combined 36 points from freshman Ava Zediker and senior Kennedy Townsend.
The Bluejays have won six of their last eight games.
Keys to the game:
Recap of First Meeting: 1-20-26
Creighton 82, Xavier 64
Grace Boffeli and Kendall McGee combined for 33 points and 20 rebounds in a 82-64 win over Xavier on Tuesday, January 20.Â
In the opening moments the two squads traded 6-0 runs. Tied for the third time at 11-11 (4:08), the Bluejays appeared to close the quarter with 11 consecutive points to seize a 22-11 edge. Xavier, however, raced down the floor in the final five seconds as Meri Kanerva knocked down a trey to send the game to the second quarter with CU holding a 22-14 lead.
The Bluejays controlled the first five minutes of the second quarter, outscoring Xavier 10-4 to push their lead out to 32-18 (4:55). A 10-2 Musketeer response send the teams to the locker rooms with Creighton holding a 34-28 advantage.
Following the script of the second quarter, Creighton pushed its edge back out to 14 (45-31) early in the third and Xavier responded by cutting the Bluejay lead back to six (53-47) with 2:03 left. This divergent ending came as the Jays closed the frame on a 7-2 run, courtesy of a three-pointer from Neleigh Gessert and layups from Boffeli and McGee.
One final push by Xavier brought the contest to a 65-58 score (6:22), but Creighton put the game away with a 11-2 surge.Â
Boffeli led Creighton with 18 points and 15 rebounds, while McGee delivered 15 points. Four other Bluejays finished in double figures with Allison Heathcock finishing with 14 points, Kennedy Townsend had 12 points, Ava Zediker scored 11 and Neleigh Gessert posted 10 points. Xavier had four finish in double digits, led by 16 from Mariyah Noel and 15 by Meri Kanerva. MacKenzie Givens finished with 12, while Savannah White delivered 10 points.
Milestone Watch
Young Core Growing Up Fast
Creighton's class of six freshmen are showing signs of a bright future for the Bluejays. The tandem of Ava Zediker and Neleigh Gessert are the two top scorers for the Bluejays and have combined to deliver nine games of 20 or more points this season. Add in the development of freshman Kendall McGee and Norah Gessert as well as sophomores Allison Heathcock and Elizabeth Gentry and the future is bright for Creighton.Â
Bluejays Can Climb Above .500 For Second Time in 2025-26
At 14-14, Creighton can move over .500 for just the second time during the 2025-26 season with a win at Xavier. The Bluejays were 6-5 after a win over DePaul on Dec. 20. A win over the Musketeers would also ensure the Bluejays would qualify for the postseason as Creighton would head to the BIG EAST Tournament at 15-14.
Bluejays Can Finish Fourth Through Sixth
Entering the game with Xavier, Creighton is 10-9 in BIG EAST action. The Bluejays have swept St. John's and Butler, been swept by UConn and Villanova and split with Seton Hall, Marquette, Georgetown, DePaul and Providence.Â
A Bluejay win and a St. John's loss to UConn moves Creighton to fifth, while a Providence win over Marquette would place the Bluejays in fourth.
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3/1: - 12:00 p.m. (CT)Â
Creighton at Xavier
Cincinnati, Ohio (Cintas Center)
Twitter: @GoCreighton, @CreightonWBBÂ
Online Stream: ESPN+ (Mike Schmaltz & Rich Hoyt):Â
https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/25dd8fba-cc92-4dc4-8c90-e815f7f75ce5
Radio: 1180 AM (Glen Sisk): https://player.listenlive.co/52381
Stat Broadcast: https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=621517&vislive=crei
Creighton at Xavier
Cincinnati, Ohio (Cintas Center)
Twitter: @GoCreighton, @CreightonWBBÂ
Online Stream: ESPN+ (Mike Schmaltz & Rich Hoyt):Â
https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/25dd8fba-cc92-4dc4-8c90-e815f7f75ce5
Radio: 1180 AM (Glen Sisk): https://player.listenlive.co/52381
Stat Broadcast: https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=621517&vislive=crei
Series with Xavier: Bluejays lead 21-2
Home: 11-0 Away: 10-2 Neutral: 0-0
Creighton and Xavier have met 23 times, with the BluejaysÂ
claiming 21 contests, including the last 17 games.Â
Date  Opponent  Score
1/15/14  Xavier  W, 79-50
2/18/14  at Xavier  W, 70-61
1/2/15  at Xavier  L, 65-66
1/30/15  Xavier  W, 74-65
1/8/16  Xavier  W, 74-47
2/7/16  at Xavier  L, 55-57
12/30/16  Xavier  W, 63-52
2/24/17  at Xavier  W, 67-57
1/22/18  at Xavier  W, 71-64 (ot)
2/16/18  Xavier  W, 65-54
1/18/19  Xavier  W, 66-62 (ot)
2/17/19  at Xavier  W, 53-52
1/24/20  Xavier  W, 62-55
2/23/20  at Xavier  W, 76-62
1/3/21  at Xavier  W, 53-50
1/2/22  at Xavier  W, 67-51
2/11/22  Xavier  W, 62-47
11/25/22  at Xavier  W, 57-51
2/12/23  Xavier  W, 73-53
2/6/24  at Xavier  W, 77-46
2/27/24  Xavier  W, 99-57
12/4/24  at Xavier  W, 82-54
1/20/26  Xavier  W, 82-64
About Xavier
- Located in Cincinnati, Ohio.Â
- The Musketeers went 7-24 last season, including an 1-17 mark in BIG EAST action.Â
- Xavier was picked to finish 11th in the BIG EAST Preseason Poll.
- Head coach Billi Chambers enters her third season in 2025-26.
Scouting Xavier (11-17, 4-15 BIG EAST)
The Musketeers have dropped 10 of their last 11 games, including the last six contests.
Â
Two Xavier players enter the game with Creighton averaging double figures, Mariyah Noel (15.1 ppg) and MacKenzie Givens (11.6 ppg).
The Musketeers have made a significant jump this season, posting four BIG EAST wins. Xavier had just one conference win combined in the previous three seasons.
Scouting Creighton (14-14, 10-9 BE)
Returning to .500 for the second time this season, Creighton was also 12-12, the Bluejays have won consecutive games. The Bluejays' two victories have come without talented freshman Neleigh Gessert who has been sidelined by a foot injury.
Against Providence the Bluejays got a combined 36 points from freshman Ava Zediker and senior Kennedy Townsend.
The Bluejays have won six of their last eight games.
Keys to the game:
- Attack the glass: In the first meeting, the Bluejays got 21 second chance points and outrebounded the Musketeers 46-36.
- Three-Point Shooting: The Bluejays went 8-for-33 from distance in the first game, while Xavier was 7-for-20.Â
- Sharing the Rock: Creighton had 19 assists in the first battle and six Bluejays finished in double digits.
Recap of First Meeting: 1-20-26
Creighton 82, Xavier 64
Grace Boffeli and Kendall McGee combined for 33 points and 20 rebounds in a 82-64 win over Xavier on Tuesday, January 20.Â
In the opening moments the two squads traded 6-0 runs. Tied for the third time at 11-11 (4:08), the Bluejays appeared to close the quarter with 11 consecutive points to seize a 22-11 edge. Xavier, however, raced down the floor in the final five seconds as Meri Kanerva knocked down a trey to send the game to the second quarter with CU holding a 22-14 lead.
The Bluejays controlled the first five minutes of the second quarter, outscoring Xavier 10-4 to push their lead out to 32-18 (4:55). A 10-2 Musketeer response send the teams to the locker rooms with Creighton holding a 34-28 advantage.
Following the script of the second quarter, Creighton pushed its edge back out to 14 (45-31) early in the third and Xavier responded by cutting the Bluejay lead back to six (53-47) with 2:03 left. This divergent ending came as the Jays closed the frame on a 7-2 run, courtesy of a three-pointer from Neleigh Gessert and layups from Boffeli and McGee.
One final push by Xavier brought the contest to a 65-58 score (6:22), but Creighton put the game away with a 11-2 surge.Â
Boffeli led Creighton with 18 points and 15 rebounds, while McGee delivered 15 points. Four other Bluejays finished in double figures with Allison Heathcock finishing with 14 points, Kennedy Townsend had 12 points, Ava Zediker scored 11 and Neleigh Gessert posted 10 points. Xavier had four finish in double digits, led by 16 from Mariyah Noel and 15 by Meri Kanerva. MacKenzie Givens finished with 12, while Savannah White delivered 10 points.
Milestone Watch
- Grace Boffeli enters the game with Xavier eighth on Creighton's single season list with 246 rebounds.
- Kennedy Townsend has 698 career points.
Young Core Growing Up Fast
Creighton's class of six freshmen are showing signs of a bright future for the Bluejays. The tandem of Ava Zediker and Neleigh Gessert are the two top scorers for the Bluejays and have combined to deliver nine games of 20 or more points this season. Add in the development of freshman Kendall McGee and Norah Gessert as well as sophomores Allison Heathcock and Elizabeth Gentry and the future is bright for Creighton.Â
Bluejays Can Climb Above .500 For Second Time in 2025-26
At 14-14, Creighton can move over .500 for just the second time during the 2025-26 season with a win at Xavier. The Bluejays were 6-5 after a win over DePaul on Dec. 20. A win over the Musketeers would also ensure the Bluejays would qualify for the postseason as Creighton would head to the BIG EAST Tournament at 15-14.
Bluejays Can Finish Fourth Through Sixth
Entering the game with Xavier, Creighton is 10-9 in BIG EAST action. The Bluejays have swept St. John's and Butler, been swept by UConn and Villanova and split with Seton Hall, Marquette, Georgetown, DePaul and Providence.Â
A Bluejay win and a St. John's loss to UConn moves Creighton to fifth, while a Providence win over Marquette would place the Bluejays in fourth.
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Players Mentioned
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