Six in Double FiguresSix Bluejays scored in double figures againstMissouri State (Jan. 8), led by K e l s e yWoodard’s 19. The game marked the secondtime in three seasons CU has put six players indouble figures, also pulling off the feat atMemphis on Dec. 6, 2006. Megan Neuvirthadded 18, Chevelle Herring had 13 andKristina Voss had 12. Stephani Rhotenscored a career-high 12 off the bench, andKellie Nelson had a season-high 13 in areserve role.90 Points<strong>Creighton</strong>’s 92 points in a 92-63 win overMissouri State on Jan. 8, were the most scoredby the Bluejays in regulation since a 96-86 winat Siena on March 22, 2003 in the WNIT. The92 points were the most scored by the Jayssince topping Wichita State 93-83 in overtimeon Jan. 7, 2006. It marked the seventh timeCU has scored 90 points for Jim Flanery, asCU improved to 7-0 when scoring 90 pointssince 2002-03.More Offensive NumbersAfter holding a 30-29 halftime lead at IllinoisState (Jan. 1), the Jays were out-scored 34-13in the second half. The 13 points in a half tiedthe lowest scoring half of basketball by theBluejays since 2002-03. The Jays scored 13points in the first half at Drake on Feb. 29, 2004and had 13 points in the first half atNorthwestern on Nov. 21, 2003.Something New From NeuvirthJunior M e g a n Neuvirth has added “shotblocker”to her basketball resumé this season,as she leads the team and ranks sixth in theM V C with 34 blocked shots. With threeblocked shots against North Dakota State(Dec. 29), she became the first Bluejay sinceJenny Olson in 1994-95 to swat at least threeshots in three straight games. Neuvirthblocked three against UC Davis (Dec. 20) andsix against Colorado State (Dec. 21) before herthree at NDSU. Olson had four, three and fourblocked shots in a three-game span from Dec.31, 1994 through Jan. 4, 1995. CU’s all-timeleading shot-blocker, Amy Hoffman, never hadthree straight games with at least three blocks.200C r e i g h t o n ’s game at North Dakota Statemarked the 200th for head coach Jim Flaneryat the helm of the Bluejays. He is the thirdBluejay coach to reach the 200 game plateau,following Bruce Rasmussen (343) and ConnieYori (285). Through 200 games, Rasmussenowned a record of 115-85 (.575), while Yoriwas 117-83 (.585) in her first 200 games at<strong>Creighton</strong>. Flanery was 114-86 (.570) throughhis first 200 games.Player of the Week – #2Junior Megan Neuvirth was named the MVCPlayer of the Week on Dec. 22 following a pairof dominating performances. Neuvirth loggedback-to-back double-doubles against UCDavis (Dec. 20) and Colorado State (Dec. 21).Against UCD, she poured in a career-high 26points, including a career-best four three-pointers,to go along with 13 rebounds. AgainstCSU, she finished with 18 points, 14 rebounds,six blocks, five assists and three steals. Forthe week she averaged 22 points, 13.5rebounds, 4.5 blocks, 3.5 assists and 3.0steals per game.Player of the Week – #1Junior Chevelle Herring was named the MVCPlayer of the Week on Dec. 15 for her playagainst No. 25 Kansas State (Dec. 9) andKansas (Dec. 13). For the week she averaged27 points and four rebounds against the Big 12foes. She poured in a game-high 23 at nationally-rankedK-State and followed with a careerhigh31 points in a one-point overtime loss toKU. For the week she shot 48.7 percent (19-39) from the field, 50 percent (4-8) from threepointrange and 75 percent (12-16) from thefree-throw line.Neuvirth on the BlockMegan Neuvirth had 23 career blocked shotsthrough 65 games before this season, with acareer-best 15 as a freshman. This year sheswatted 34 shots in the regular-season, includinga career-high six blocks against ColoradoState on Dec. 21. The six blocks were themost by a Bluejay since Amy Hoffman swattedsix at Oregon State on Dec. 2, 2004. The CUrecord for blocks in a game is seven, done byKris Kugel on Dec. 20, 1991 at UNI.30-Point PerformanceChevelle Herring poured in a career-high 31points against Kansas on Dec. 13, the firstBluejay to score 30 in a game since SamSchuett had 30 at Nebraska on Nov. 30, 2007.Herring became the fifth different player underhead coach Jim Flanery (since 2002-03) toscore at least 30 in a game, joining Schuett,Angie Janis, Laura Spanheimer and ChristyNeneman. It marked the 10th time a playerhas scored at least 30 in a game underFlanery, as Neneman accomplished the featfive times with Flanery at the helm.We’re HurtingOver half of <strong>Creighton</strong>’s original 11-person rosterhas been affected by injury or illness thisseason, causing the Jays to add walk-onMichaela Kraft to the team.First – DaNae Moore breaks her right hand inpreseason practice and misses both of CU’sexhibition games.Second – Sam Schuett injures her left anklein practice on Oct. 31, has surgery on Nov. 10and will miss the season.Third – Michelle Kaus tears her left ACL forthe second time in eight months againstNebraska on Nov. 17. She underwent surgeryon Dec. 18 and will miss the remainder of theseason.Fourth – Megan Neuvirth is struck with an illnesswhich caused her to lose weight. Testsfor mono were negative, however she didreceived an I-V before the game at Oklahoma(Dec. 3), but played all 40 minutes that night.Fifth – Kristina Voss sprains her left ankleearly in the first half at Kansas State (Dec. 9),plays just two minutes that game and missesthe Kansas contest (Dec. 13).Sixth – Kelsey Woodard suffers a cut aboveher right eye in a collision during the Kansasgame on Dec. 13, misses a key seven-minutespan in the second half, before returning to thefloor with stitches.40-40-40 ClubChevelle Herring, Megan Neuvirth a n dKelsey Woodard each played all 40 minutesat Kansas State on Dec. 9. It marked the firsttime since Dec. 29, 2005, that three Bluejaysplayed at least 40 minutes in a game, as AngieJanis (40), Kristi Woodard (41) and Ally Thrall(45) all played that much in a 67-64 overtimewin at Northern Iowa. It was the first timeunder Jim Flanery that three players hadplayed an entire game in the same game.Welcome AboardWith season-ending injuries to senior MichelleKaus (knee) and junior Sam Schuett (ankle),the Bluejay roster was down to nine. It’s nowback to 10 active players with the addition ofwalk-on Michaela Kraft. The 5-foot-3 guardfrom Mandan, N.D., joined the team in lateNovember, and debuted in a game againstColorado State on Dec. 21.Lonely No MooreFreshman DaNae Moore is no longer the lonefreshman on the Bluejay roster, as MichaelaKraft has joined the team as a walk-on. Alone,Moore represented the smallest freshmanclass in school history to start the season.While Kraft is in her second year at <strong>Creighton</strong>,athletically she is listed as a freshman.This Chevy Drives WellJunior Chevelle Herring scored in double figuresin seven straight games (Nov. 17-Dec.13), including four games with at least 20points and the first 30-point game by a Bluejayin over a year. On Nov. 17 against Nebraskashe scored a then career-best 19 points on 9-of-22 shooting from the field. She followedwith a then career-high 24-point outing againstNo. 24 Iowa State (Nov. 23). Against KU (Dec.13), she again led all players with a career-high31 points, finishing 11-of-18 from the field.
IV for Intravenous, Not the NumeralDespite receiving an IV before the game atsixth-ranked Oklahoma (Dec. 3), M e g a nNeuvirth played a career-high 40 minutes (andfollowed with 40 minutes played at K-State onDec. 9). She established a then career-high bymaking all three of her three-point attempts atOU. The junior also led the team with sixrebounds and led all players with four stealsand two blocked shots against the nationallyrankedSooners.Twice the Double-DoublesIn addition to Megan Neuvirth’s 17 points andcareer-high 16 rebounds at Saint Louis (Nov.25), Kristina Voss added a double-double ofher own. Voss chipped in 10 points and 10rebounds for her fourth career double-dime.They were the first pair of Jays to have doubledoublesin the same game since Neuvirth andSam Schuett pulled off the feat on Feb. 3,2007 at Northern Iowa.About Our New Home<strong>Creighton</strong> is currently building an on-campusfacility for basketball and volleyball, which willopen in August of this year and host the 20<strong>09</strong>M V C Volleyball Championship. The RyanCenter and D.J. Sokol Arena, a 75,600 squarefootfacility, will house a gym seating nearly2,500, athletics staff offices, locker rooms, ticketoffices, athletic training and meeting rooms,a media workroom and much more.Construction on the facility located just twoblocks north of the Civic Auditorium at Websterand Florence Blvd. (19th Street) is expected tobe completed in August, 20<strong>09</strong>. A live webcamof the construction site can be viewed atwww.gocreighton.com.No Bench ScoringFor the first time under head coach J i mFlanery, the <strong>Creighton</strong> bench was held scorelessin the Jays’ 63-59 loss to Iowa State onNov. 23. Three times previously the Bluejayshad notched two points off the bench since2002-03, with the last coming against Kansasin 2005.ACL-UThat’s Anterior Cruciate Ligament <strong>University</strong>,not that other ACLU. When Michelle Kaustore her ACL against Nebraska (Nov. 17), itmarked the latest in a long line of ACL tears forBluejays. Kaus also tore the same ACL lastMarch. No longer a Bluejay, Abby Henry toreher ACL in the preseason last year and missedthe entire season. Megan Neuvirth tore herACL in CU’s final game of the 2006-07 seasonand Kelsey Crites tore her ACL in <strong>Creighton</strong>’ssixth game of the 2006-07 season. Evenwomen’s basketball sports information contact,Rob Simms, tore his ACL in May, <strong>2008</strong>.Season-Ending InjuriesFor the fourth consecutive season the Bluejayshave lost at least one player to injury for theentire season. This year junior Sam Schuettsuffered an ankle injury in practice on Oct. 31and will be forced to miss the season followingsurgery on the left ankle on Nov. 10. SeniorMichelle Kaus tore her left ACL on Nov. 17and will also miss the season. ChevelleHerring (2007-08), Kelsey Crites (2006-07)and Megan Neuvirth (2005-06) were the previousplayers to go down with season-endinginjuries. Crites played six games in 2006-07,while Herring and Neuvirth did not play a gamethe seasons they were injured.
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