Nebraska Women’s Basketball Triumphs Over Creighton

The Nebraska women’s basketball team recorded a decisive victory against the Creighton Bluejays, winning 84-50 at the Pinnacle Bank Arena on Wednesday night. This win brings Nebraska’s record to 3-0, while Creighton falls to 1-2.

Historical Context

Entering the matchup, Nebraska was ahead in their overall series against Creighton with a record of 31-19. However, the Bluejays had demonstrated recent dominance by winning eight of the last nine encounters, including a three-game winning streak since their last defeat on November 17, 2021.

Game Overview

Nebraska displayed a commanding start, quickly gaining a 10-3 lead, highlighted by senior guard Callin Hake scoring five points in succession. However, both teams struggled with shooting, leading to a brief scoring halt for over three minutes. Creighton found itself in foul trouble, and Nebraska capitalized, with junior forward Jessica Petrie hitting a buzzer-beater from approximately 60 feet to close the first quarter, placing Nebraska ahead 17-9.

“I honestly wasn’t thinking,” Petrie remarked postgame about her impressive shot. “It wasn’t really the play, but I was just open for my teammates and threw a Hail Mary, and it went in. It’s an Aussie thing.”

Dominance in the Second Quarter

The second quarter saw Nebraska elevate their performance, outscoring Creighton 11-5. Nebraska’s defense shone, limiting Creighton to just five points and forcing nine turnovers, with the Bluejays managing only 8% accuracy from the field. This quarter saw the Gessert twins from Omaha—Neleigh and Norah—score all the points for Creighton.

Halftime Insights

At the end of the first half, Nebraska managed a shooting percentage of 40%, including five successful three-pointers. In contrast, Creighton struggled with only 16% shooting overall and converting just 2-of-12 from behind the arc.

Third Quarter Highlights

As the third quarter started, Nebraska quickly extended their lead with back-to-back three-pointers from Hake and senior guard Hailey Weaver. Although Creighton attempted to rally, sophomore center Elizabeth Gentry provided a brief resurgence with five points. However, foul troubles plagued her as the quarter progressed.

A significant moment occurred when a jump ball led to a flurry of fouls, culminating in a flagrant on Creighton’s Allison Heathcock. Nebraska’s Britt Prince capitalized at the free-throw line, increasing Nebraska’s lead to 53-29.

Final Quarter and Conclusion

The fourth quarter saw continued scoring exchanges, but with Nebraska maintaining a 34-point lead, the outcome was never in doubt. Ultimately, Nebraska’s defensive pressure forced Creighton into a staggering 25 turnovers—the highest for the Bluejays since a 2012 game against Minnesota.

Nebraska also set a record for the most three-pointers made in their series history against Creighton, achieving ten successful attempts, surpassing the previous record of nine established in 2008. The victory matched Nebraska’s largest margin recorded against Creighton, replicating a score from 2005.

“I wasn’t going to leave Nebraska without beating Creighton, and that was definitely on my mind tonight,” said Hake after the game. “We’re happy it’s a red state again.”

Player Performances

Leading the scoring were Britt Prince with 18 points and seven rebounds, followed by Hake with 13 points. Both Jessica Petrie and Claire Johnson contributed significantly with 11 points each.

Upcoming Match

Nebraska is set to face North Dakota State in Sioux Falls at the Sanford Pentagon on Sunday, November 16, at 12 p.m., a game that will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.