Bluejays Fight Hard, Fall to South Dakota State in Season Opener
Creighton Women's Basketball opened their season with plenty of determination, but ultimately came up short, falling 78-62 to South Dakota State on Monday in Omaha. From the very first quarter, it was clear that both teams were feeling each other out, trading baskets as the game set a competitive tone. Creighton managed an early 7-4 lead after a three-pointer from Kennedy Townsend and held a slight 13-11 advantage with just under four minutes left in the first quarter. However, South Dakota State surged at the end of the quarter, finishing with a seven-point run to take an 18-13 lead.
The Bluejays tried to chip away at the deficit in the second quarter, finding some rhythm from beyond the arc. Allison Heathcock sparked Creighton with a trey, and Townsend followed with back-to-back three-pointers to bring her team within two points at 26-24. The Bluejays stayed close for most of the quarter, trailing 32-30 with less than two minutes remaining, but the Jackrabbits closed the half on a 6-0 run, heading into the locker room with a 38-30 lead.
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The third quarter brought a spirited comeback effort from Creighton. Ava Zediker led the charge, scoring 11 points in the quarter and finishing with a team-high 17 points for the game. Grad transfer Grace Boffeli added a crucial bucket to spark a 17-7 run, cutting South Dakota State’s lead to just one possession at 49-47. Yet, South Dakota State answered at the buzzer, as Emilee Fox drained a three-pointer to maintain a 52-47 advantage entering the final period.
The fourth quarter belonged to the Jackrabbits, who quickly extended their lead with a three-point play and gradually pulled away. South Dakota State’s senior Brooklyn Meyer had an outstanding performance, putting up 33 points on 14-of-20 shooting, along with eight rebounds, five assists, and five blocks. Meyer scored 13 points in the second quarter and added 10 more in the final quarter, almost single-handedly keeping her team in control. Katie Vasecka contributed 18 points, while Madison Mathiowetz nailed all three of her three-point attempts for nine points, and Maggie Hartwig dominated the boards with 12 rebounds.
Creighton showed flashes of promise, with Townsend adding 14 points alongside Zediker’s 17. The Bluejays shot 33 percent overall and were out-rebounded 39-37, though they managed more assists, 15-13, and slightly edged in steals, 6-5. Despite the loss, Creighton still holds the edge in the all-time series against South Dakota State, leading 11-7.
Creighton will look to rebound in their next outing on Sunday, November 9, as they face Drake in their road opener, aiming to build on the effort and determination displayed in this season-opening game. Meanwhile, South Dakota State will return home to host Rice, riding high off their strong start and confident performances from Meyer and her teammates.
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