Omaha, Neb. — The Creighton womens basketball team remained unbeaten in BIG EAST action with a 72-62 win over Marquette on Friday, Jan. 3rd.
With the win the Bluejays moved to 11-3 on the season and 3-0 in BIG EAST play, while Marquette fell to 9-4 overall and 0-2 in conference action.
Knotted at 56-56 with 3:35 left in the game, senior Jaylyn Agnew knocked down a pair of improbable shots to spur the Bluejays onto victory. Coming out of a timeout, Agnew drove into the lane, willing a shot up and over the front of the rim. After a defensive stop, Agnew gathered in a cross-court pass in the final seconds of the shot clock. With just two seconds on the shot clock, Agnew grabbed the ball with her back to the basket and directed a shot from just inside the arc. Agnews shot sailed through the rim and the net, giving the Bluejays a 60-56 lead with 2:42 left.
Marquette answered quickly with a trifecta from Jordan King, but freshman Mykel Parham knocked down a jumper in the paint. Moments later Creighton pushed its lead to 63-59 (1:16) on a free throw from junior Temi Carda. The Golden Eagles made it a one-point game once more on a trey from Selena Lott at 63-62 (1:03), but sophomore Rachel Saunders answered with a Bluejay three-ball with 34 seconds left to make it 66-62. Down the stretch Creighton went 6-for-6 from the charity stripe to seal the win.
Agnew led all scorers with 27 points, while Carda closed the game with 17 points. Marquette got 12 points from a trio of players in Selena Lott, Isabelle Spingola and Lauren Van Kleunen.
After getting the opening jumper of the game from senior Olivia Elger, the Bluejays saw the Golden Eagles go on a 9-0 run to soar out to a 9-2 lead (6:31). Agnew followed with her first bucket of the evening, converting a traditional three-point play. Creighton remained within striking distance the remainder of the opening quarter, trailing Marquette 13-10 after the opening frame.
The Bluejays came out quickly in the second quarter, starting the period with eight straight points. Junior Temi Carda delivered a mid-range jumper, then Elger connected on a pair of free throws to give Creighton its first lead of the game at 14-13 (9:06). Sophomore Rachael Saunders continued to the run with consecutive baskets to push the Bluejays out to an 18-13 edge (7:45). Creighton held the advantage in the final minutes of the half, but Marquette scored the final five points to send the Bluejays to the locker room trailing 28-24 at the half.
Just as Creighton had in the second quarter, the Bluejays opened the period with a quick burst. This time Creighton scored seven consecutive points to reclaim the lead at 31-28 (7:15). Carda started the run, then Agnew took over with the next give on a trey and a pair of free throws. Holding a 36-35 edge with 4:30 remaining, the Bluejays created some separation on an 8-2 run. This time sophomore Chloe Dworak and freshman Carly Bachelor provided the power as Dworak connected on a consecutive three-pointers and Bachelor dropped in layup on a back cut to give the Bluejays a 44-37 lead with 1:45 remaining in the third. The Bluejays pushed their edge to double digits at 51-41 (38 seconds remaining) and took a 51-43 advantage to the fourth.
Marquette responded early in the fourth with a 9-3 run over the first four minutes to make it a one-possession game with the Bluejays holding a 54-52 lead with 6:38 left. The Golden Eagles went on to pull even at 56-56 with 3:35 left on the clock.
Creighton concludes a grueling four-game in eight-day stretch with a battle against DePaul on Sunday, Jan. 5th at 1:00 pm.
