OMAHA, Neb. – Sophomore Lizzy Wendell (Blue Springs, Mo.) scored 21 points for the Drake University women's basketball team, but it wasn't enough to knock off a hot-shooting Creighton squad as the Bluejays won, 93-71, on Sunday, Dec. 14 at D.J. Sokol Arena.
Wendell was one of four players to finish in double figures for Drake (4-5). Sophomore Caitlin Ingle (Runnells, Iowa) had 15 points and five assists. Freshmen Becca Jonas (Independence, Mo.) and Maddy Dean (Jordan, Minn.) added 12 and 10 points, respectively. Dean pulled down 10 rebounds for her first career double-double.
Creighton (5-5) was led in scoring by junior Marissa Janning who recorded a game-high 30 points. Janning, the reigning Big East Player of the Year, scored 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting in the opening half.
Out of the first media timeout, Wendell worked free for a three-pointer, her seventh point, to cut Creighton's lead to 12-11. One possession later Ingle converted a conventional three-pointer play to push Drake ahead 14-12.
A flurry of points followed from both teams as the lead changed a total of 12 times in the first 12 minutes. However, Drake took its final lead at 27-26 after a jumper as Creighton seized control of the contest with a 13-0 scoring run that lasted over four minutes.
“I think they (Creighton) were the more aggressive team today,” said head coach Jennie Baranczyk. “They set the tone early and shot the ball well. We knew they were going to shot the ball well, but we made some mistakes that cost us.”
Senior Liza Heap (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) ended the Bluejays run with a three-pointer at the 4:10 mark and later knocked down one of two free throws to trim the Bulldogs' deficit to six points, 43-37, with 1:15 remaining in the half.
Unfortunately it would be as close as Drake would be as Creighton used another scoring run, this a 9-0 advantage, to build its lead back to double digits. The run stretched from the end of the first half in to the opening minutes of the second stanza. Wendell ended this run with a layup, but the margin would be too much to overcome as the Bluejays would lead by as many as 25 points in the half as they pulled away for the victory.
“They would miss some shots, but they were steady all game,” Baranczyk said. “We let the wheels fall off and started making some uncharacteristic mistakes. We didn't to a great job of moving the ball well on offense and getting in the right defensive rotations. It's disappointing, but a lot of credit to Creighton for really starting off so well and keeping that up.”
The Bluejays shot 50 percent (35-of-70) from the field, including hitting 12 three-pointers, while the Bulldogs finished at 40.3 percent (25-of-62) from the floor, but connected for just five three-pointers. Creighton outrebounded Drake, 45-32.
Drake hosts Northwestern College for its annual “Pack the Knapp” game this Thursday, Dec. 18. Tip-off between the Bulldogs and the Red Raiders is scheduled for 11:05 a.m. Over 3,000 local elementary and middle school students are set for a fun day of basketball and educational activities at the Knapp Center.
