Women's Basketball Defeats Creighton Bluejays 59-58 in Overtime

Dec. 13, 2008

Box Score

Box Score in PDF Format

OMAHA, Neb. – –

In a game that saw 17 lead changes and 12 ties, the Kansas women’s basketball team hung on to defeat the Creighton Bluejays, 59-58 in an overtime thriller Saturday afternoon at the Omaha Civic Auditorium.

Led by junior Danielle McCray’s 16 points, Kansas improved to 7-1 on the season, while Creighton dropped to 2-6. CU junior guard Chevelle Herring led the Bluejays with a career-high performance of 31 points.

Kansas came out strong in the first half, stretching its lead to eight points midway through the period. Creighton, led by Herring’s 16 first-half points, fought back to tie the score at 24 at the 4:25 mark. The last four minutes of the half included five lead changes and two tie scores before the Bluejays took a slim 31-30 lead into the locker room.

The second half saw the Jayhawks take back the lead 35-34 on a three-point play by junior Sade Morris at the 18:22 mark. Despite McCray’s nine second-half points, Kansas was unable to sustain a lead and the game remained hotly contested. Morris put KU up 53-51 with 37.5 seconds left. Herring tied the game at 53 with a chance for a three-point play, but missed the free throw to send the game into overtime.

The Bluejays struck first in the extra period, going up 55-53 before junior LaChelda Jacobs hit a jumper to tie the score yet again at 55. The teams continued to trade advantages until a KU defensive stand forced a Bluejay shot clock violation. Senior Ivana Catic made two free throws at the other end to put the Jayhawks up for good, 59-56. Catic finished the game a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stripe, all in the second half and overtime. McCray missed the final two free throws, but the Jayhawks held on to take the victory 59-58.

McCray was the top Jayhawk with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Morris also tallied seven rebounds to go along with eight points and three steals. Junior LaChelda Jacobs was the only other Jayhawk to score in double figures, contributing 13 points.

Kansas will take the floor again when it plays at UCLA on Sunday, Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. (Central). The game will be televised on FSN.