Creighton Women Run Away from Omaha

Omaha, Neb. – Behind a career-high tying 25 point from Neleigh Gessert and a career-high 15 points from Norah Gessert, the Creighton women's basketball team routed Omaha 92-48 at Baxter Arena on Wednesday, Dec. 17. 

With the win, the Bluejays improved to 5-5 on the year, recording its largest margin of victory since defeating Northern Iowa, 115-62 on Dec. 3, 2023. The Mavericks, meanwhile, fell to 1-11 overall with the lost. 

Gentry opened the game with corner three and connected on each of her first three treys as she scored Creighton's first 11 points of the contest. A 13-0 run late in the opening frame, featuring a pair of threes from Norah Gessert helped the Bluejays build a 28-7 advantage after the first period.

Creighton continued to pour it on as a 9-2 burst to open the frame put the Jays out in front 37-9 at the under-five media timeout. The Bluejays lead extended its lead down the stretch as Gessert keyed a 13-2 run with a three from the corner, while Neleigh Gessert followed with a layup and Tara Dacic dialed up a mid-range jumper as the Jays take a 50-17 advantage into the locker room.

Gentry led the way with a career-high 13 points with Norah Gessert adding a career-best 12 points of her own as the Jays shot 46.2 percent from the floor in the first half. The Bluejays defense caused havoc throughout the opening half, forcing 13 Omaha turnovers and holding the Mavericks to 22.7 percent shooting. 

Out of the break, Omaha emphasized getting to the paint as the Mavericks cut the deficit to 56-28 on a pair of layups from Elsa Vedral and Daria Shelby. Creighton, however, responded quickly and finished the third period on a 15-3 burst with a barrage of three-pointers from Neleigh Gessert and Kendall McGee to take a 42-point lead (76-34) into the final period. 

The Bluejays grew to as much as 47 at 85-38 on a free throw from Allison Heathcock. The Jays lead remained larger than 42 the remainder of the game as Creighton recorded its largest margin of victory in 33 all-time meetings with the Mavericks. 

In addition to the 40 points from the Gessert twins, Gentry had a career-high 17 points and Heathcock added 13. Eight different Bluejays scored and CU buried a season-high 16 three-pointers, had a season-best 13 steals and assisted on 27 of their 34 made baskets. Overall, the Jays finished the night shooting a season-best 50.7 percent from the field, 45.7 percent from three and 80 percent from the charity stripe. 
 
Omaha was led by 13 points by Vedral and 10 points from Regan Juenemann, as the Mavericks were held to just 30.4 percent shooting and recorded 20 turnovers in the contest.
 
The Bluejays are back at home for the BIG EAST home opener on Saturday at 1 p.m. when they host DePaul inside D.J. Sokol Arena. 
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