Its the 10th Illinois State womens basketball trip to play Creighton. The teams have played in the Civic Auditorium, a hockey arena on the Nebraska State Fairgrounds and even a couple of high school gyms.
In each case, the result has been the game. Creighton wins. In most cases, the Jays have won big--average victory margin of 16 points per game. Redbird coach
Jenny Yopp says it wont be easy this time, either.
Creighton is very hard to guard, said Yopp, whose Redbirds are 4-17 overall, 2-10 in the Missouri Valley despite strong recent efforts against Wichita State, No. 13 Southwest Missouri State and at Drake. Creighton excellent shooters who also can take the ball to the basket. Angela Timmons is at a point in her career where she is very difficult to stop. She can drive the basketball with either hand, shoot the three or find her teammates on the perimeter.
Creighton, 12-8 overall, 6-5 in the Missouri Valley, is coming off a 65-57 win over Indiana State behind Krissie Spanheimers six three-pointers and 20 points. Timmons, the Jays leading scorer at more than 14 points per game, had a 1-9 shooting night, but had eight assists. Creighton buried the Sycamores on the boards, 49-23. CU had as many offensive rebounds as Indiana State had total rebounds.
The Bluejays are a strong rebounding team despite a starting lineup which features four guards and just one post player.
Were better prepared and more experienced in defending teams like Creighton, said Yopp. Against Creightons perimeters, you have to be able to help and recover. The match-ups require us to be active on defense.
Yopp likes her starting five of
Kellie Johnson,
Nadia Peruch,
Sharon Blade,
Steph Reichle and
Shandeen Hunt.
Our pacesetters are the best group we have at working the basketball on offense, said Yopp. We have worked hard at continuity and seeing what the defense gives us. Kellie Johnson has done a great job of shooting the ball for us, too.
Johnson hit her first six shots in Fridays 68-57 loss at Drake, finishing with a season-high 16 points. She had 10 of those in the first seven minutes of the game.
After the Creighton game, the Redbirds return home for three straight games at Redbird Arena starting with a Friday match-up with Indiana State.
