Photo by: Steve Branscombe
Women's Basketball Travels to DePaul for Friday Contest
1/20/2016 8:59:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Omaha, Neb. - The Creighton women's basketball team enters the weekend on with thoughts of climbing the BIG EAST Conference ladder. In the midst of a four-game win streak Creighton will get a strong test as the Bluejays head into the home of the conference leader, DePaul, on Friday, Jan. 22 at 7:00 pm.
1/22: - 7:01 pm: Creighton (10-9, 4-3 BIG EAST) at DePaul (14-6, 6-1 BIG EAST)
Webstream - BIG EAST Digital Network:
http://foxsportsgo.com
Dave Bernard (Play-by-Play)
and Patricia Babock-McGraw (Color Analyst)
Stats (Free): http://creighton.statbroadcast.com
Series History: DePaul leads 5-2
DePaul won last meeting 78-76 on February 20, 2015 in Omaha.
Download Full Game Notes
Bench Contributions
The win over Providence, 72-48, on Jan. 17 put Creighton's depth on display as the Bluejays got 37 points from its bench. Senior Tessa Leytem and sophomore Myah Mellman each reached double-figures for the first time with 14 points, while
freshman Ali Greene chipped in another five.
Add to that number an additional 19 points from Lauren Works who was pressed into the starting lineup due to Sydney Lamberty's illness and 56 of Creighton's 72 points came from role players.
She's Back! Rollerson, that is.
There is no doubt that injuries have
hampered the Bluejays this season, but one of the missing pieces returned on Jan. 17 as Brianna Rollerson saw action for the first time since Nov. 15. Sidelined for just over eight weeks by a Jones fracture to her right foot, Brianna played 11 minutes against the Friars.
Defense in 3D
Under head coach Jim Flanery the Bluejays have become known for three-point shooting, while that is still a hallmark of this team, the key to Creighton's four-game win streak has been defense.
Over the last three games Creighton has taken its D to a new level, holding Xavier, Butler under 50 points. Prior to the game with Xavier on Jan. 8, the last time the Bluejays held the opposition to 50 or less was Nov. 26, 2013 against South Dakota.
The last time the Bluejays held three straight opponents under 50 was the Bluejays magical MVC Tournament run in 2011-12.
DePaul will present a tall task, but the last time Creighton held held the opposition to 50 or less in four consecutive games was during the 2008-09 season.
Last 4-game stretch under 50
1/10/09 vs. Wichita State W, 53-45
1/15/09 at Southern Illinois W, 55-43
1/17/09 at Evansville W, 50-47
1/23/09 vs. Northern Iowa W, 62-44
Flanery vs. Top 25
Finding the proper mix to best a ranked team can be difficult. After winning just once in his first 18 contests, Flanery and teh Bluejays have claimed three of the last ten.
Under Flanery's direction the Bluejays hold a 4-24 record in 28 contests, including 0-1 this season. Creighton's last win on the road against a ranked opponent came in 2008 against #24 Illinois State.
Flanery's victorys vs. AP Top-25
Date Result Opponent
2/2/08 W, 75-71 at #24 Illinois State
12/5/12 W, 66-57 vs. #25 Nebraska
3/23/13 W, 61-56 vs. #22 Syracuse
2/23/14 W, 65-62 vs. #22 St. John's
Webstream - BIG EAST Digital Network:
http://foxsportsgo.com
Dave Bernard (Play-by-Play)
and Patricia Babock-McGraw (Color Analyst)
Stats (Free): http://creighton.statbroadcast.com
Series History: DePaul leads 5-2
DePaul won last meeting 78-76 on February 20, 2015 in Omaha.
Download Full Game Notes
Bird Seeds
- DePaul owns the series edge on the Bluejays, 5-2. The Blue Demons are 4-0 against Creighton at home.
- DePaul is one of just two places that Bluejay head coach Jim Flanery has yet to earn a victory in the BIG EAST. The other is at Butler.
- The Bluejays are riding a season-long four-game winning streak entering play on Friday, while DePaul has won its last two contests.
- Five of the combined projected starters call Illinois home (four from DePaul and Owens), while four hail from Minnesota (three Bluejays and Jenkins).
- While Creighton enters Friday's game in sixth place in the BIG EAST and DePaul is atop the conference, just two games seperate the two squads.
Scouting DePaul (14-6, 6-1 BIG EAST)
The two-time defending BIG EAST champs are atop the conference once again at 6-1. DePaul has looked dominant in some instances this season, giving #1 Connecticut and #3 Notre Dame close runs in the non-conference season.
A trio of Blue Demons lead the charge for DePaul in Megan Podkowa, Chanise Jenkins and Jessica January. Podkowa leads the team with 15.0 ppg, but Jenkins is just a step back at 14.9. January runs the offense with 120 assists to go with her 13.1 ppg.
Despite losing the 2014-15 BIG EAST Player of the Year, Brittany Hrynko, DePaul plays at the same frenetic pace the Blue Demons have become known for. DePaul averages just under 80 points per game and forces 19.5 turnovers per contest.
Keys to the Game w/DePaul
The two-time defending BIG EAST champs are atop the conference once again at 6-1. DePaul has looked dominant in some instances this season, giving #1 Connecticut and #3 Notre Dame close runs in the non-conference season.
A trio of Blue Demons lead the charge for DePaul in Megan Podkowa, Chanise Jenkins and Jessica January. Podkowa leads the team with 15.0 ppg, but Jenkins is just a step back at 14.9. January runs the offense with 120 assists to go with her 13.1 ppg.
Despite losing the 2014-15 BIG EAST Player of the Year, Brittany Hrynko, DePaul plays at the same frenetic pace the Blue Demons have become known for. DePaul averages just under 80 points per game and forces 19.5 turnovers per contest.
Keys to the Game w/DePaul
- Slow the pace: The Bluejays can push the ball and will on occasion, but Creighton cannot allow DePaul to dictate the pace throughout the game. In DePaul's lone BIG EAST loss, Villanova kept the Blue Demons to just 60 points to claim a 64-60 win.
- Take care of the basketball: This goes hand-in-hand with impacting the pace of the game. DePaul's 19.5 turnovers forced per contest is among the NCAA leaders. Creighton, meanwhile, is third in the NCAA with 11.3 turnovers per game.
- Three-point shooting: Both teams like to shoot from long range as DePaul is third in the NCAA (176) in made treys and Creighton is ninth (166). The difference on Friday will be which team is more efficient from beyond the arc.
Bench Contributions
The win over Providence, 72-48, on Jan. 17 put Creighton's depth on display as the Bluejays got 37 points from its bench. Senior Tessa Leytem and sophomore Myah Mellman each reached double-figures for the first time with 14 points, while
freshman Ali Greene chipped in another five.
Add to that number an additional 19 points from Lauren Works who was pressed into the starting lineup due to Sydney Lamberty's illness and 56 of Creighton's 72 points came from role players.
She's Back! Rollerson, that is.
There is no doubt that injuries have
hampered the Bluejays this season, but one of the missing pieces returned on Jan. 17 as Brianna Rollerson saw action for the first time since Nov. 15. Sidelined for just over eight weeks by a Jones fracture to her right foot, Brianna played 11 minutes against the Friars.
Defense in 3D
Under head coach Jim Flanery the Bluejays have become known for three-point shooting, while that is still a hallmark of this team, the key to Creighton's four-game win streak has been defense.
Over the last three games Creighton has taken its D to a new level, holding Xavier, Butler under 50 points. Prior to the game with Xavier on Jan. 8, the last time the Bluejays held the opposition to 50 or less was Nov. 26, 2013 against South Dakota.
The last time the Bluejays held three straight opponents under 50 was the Bluejays magical MVC Tournament run in 2011-12.
DePaul will present a tall task, but the last time Creighton held held the opposition to 50 or less in four consecutive games was during the 2008-09 season.
Last 4-game stretch under 50
1/10/09 vs. Wichita State W, 53-45
1/15/09 at Southern Illinois W, 55-43
1/17/09 at Evansville W, 50-47
1/23/09 vs. Northern Iowa W, 62-44
Flanery vs. Top 25
Finding the proper mix to best a ranked team can be difficult. After winning just once in his first 18 contests, Flanery and teh Bluejays have claimed three of the last ten.
Under Flanery's direction the Bluejays hold a 4-24 record in 28 contests, including 0-1 this season. Creighton's last win on the road against a ranked opponent came in 2008 against #24 Illinois State.
Flanery's victorys vs. AP Top-25
Date Result Opponent
2/2/08 W, 75-71 at #24 Illinois State
12/5/12 W, 66-57 vs. #25 Nebraska
3/23/13 W, 61-56 vs. #22 Syracuse
2/23/14 W, 65-62 vs. #22 St. John's
Players Mentioned
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