Bluejay WBB Dominates Providence in Home Finale, 69-49

Omaha, Neb. -- The Creighton women's basketball team avenged a loss to Providence last month with a 69-49 victory over the Friars on Thursday, Feb. 26, in the final regular-season home game of the season for the Bluejays.

Creighton evened its record to 14-14 on the year and moved to 10-9 in BIG EAST play. Providence fell to 14-16 on the season and is 7-12 in league action.

Ava Zediker led the Jays with 20 points, the fifth game of her freshman season with 20 or more points, and Kennedy Townsend added 16 points in her final BIG EAST home game. Kendall McGee also finished in double-digits with 12 points.

Creighton led 22-17 after a fast-paced first quarter that saw Creighton shoot 69 percent from the field and dominate the glass 12-3, but give PC opportunities thanks to eight turnovers that the Friars turned into seven points. Zediker had nine points on 3-of-3 shooting in the first quarter, but Grace Boffeli picked up three personal fouls in the opening stanza which relegated her to the bench for the second quarter.

The Bluejays opened up their first 10 point lead of the game at 29-19 after a Townsend steal and lay-up, part of a 7-2 blitz to begin the second quarter. Creighton's led at the break 41-24 after closing the first half on a 12-2 run. CU had just one turnover in the second quarter while outscoring the visiting Friars 19-7.

Zediker led all players with 10 points before intermission, while Norah Gessert contributed seven points and five rebounds. The Jays held PC to 27.3 percent shooting in the first half, including 4-for-13 accuracy on layups.

Creighton's lead hovered between 12-20 points throughout the third quarter, with the Jays taking a 58-39 lead into the final 10 minutes. 

Providence never got any closer than 17 points in the fourth quarter as the Friars shot a paltry 16.7 percent in the final period. Creighton held Providence to 25.0 percent shooting for the game, the best defensive effort by the Jays since holding Georgetown to 25.0 percent shooting on Feb. 18, 2023.

Payton Dunbar led PC with 12 points and Teneisia Brown scored 10 for the Friars.

Creighton closes out the regular season on Sunday at Noon Central when it visits Xavier for a game that will be broadcast on ESPN+.