Senior days can bring out a mix of emotions for players, coaches and the seniors themselves. It was no different when Creighton women’s basketball hosted Big East foe, Villanova, on their senior day last Sunday. After a hard-fought four quarters, the Bluejays came up short against the Wildcats, falling 74-64. This dropped the Bluejays to an 8-9 record in Big East play and 12-14 overall.
“I thought if we’d made a few more free throws down the stretch to keep it closer, it would have been a little different,” head coach Jim Flanery said. “I thought the live ball turnovers were critical and a credit to them; there is a reason that they are second in the Big East.”
The Bluejays started off with a bang. After Villanova scored the first two points of the game, the Bluejays answered with a 9-0 run, including a transition 3-pointer from freshman Neleigh Gessert. However, this lead did not last long. A series of turnovers by the Bluejays led to an 11-0 run for the Wildcats, giving them a 14-9 lead late in the first quarter. However, Creighton was able to erase the deficit to tie the game at 14 at the end of the quarter despite finishing the quarter with eight turnovers.
3-point shooting became key to the second quarter for the Bluejays. A pair of 3-pointers from Gessert got the Bluejays up to a 20-16 lead early in the second quarter. After this, the next ten points for the Bluejays all came from senior Kennedy Townsend, who would finish the game with 23 points. However, the Bluejays were still unable to build on their lead, holding a 32-29 advantage at halftime.
The Bluejays were able to maintain a slight lead for the beginning of the third quarter. After a turnover from the Wildcats, the Bluejays were able to capitalize with a layup from Townsend to bring the lead to 44-41. However, like in the first quarter, turnovers continued to plague the Bluejays. After three turnovers in the final four minutes of the quarter, Creighton found themselves trailing 54-49 going into the final quarter.
The first few minutes of the final quarter were a defensive struggle. Neither team was able to score until a layup from Villanova brought their lead to 56-49 with six minutes remaining in the game.
“It seemed like it was 54-49 forever,” Flanery said. “I don’t know how many possessions either team went without scoring, but it was over three minutes before either team scored. That was critical because if we had cut into that lead right there, the game would have been different and the pressure on them would have been different.”
The Bluejays found themselves struggling to close the gap, trailing by as much as 15 in the fourth quarter. The Bluejays were able to cut the lead to ten in the final minute but were unable to cut the deficit to single digits, falling 74-64.
Despite the disappointment, the Bluejays were still able to honor three players on senior night. They were Kiani Lockett, Grace Boffelli and Kennedy Townsend.
“Obviously, we wanted to win that game, but after the game, it was amazing just to see everyone show so much love and support to us three seniors,” Boffelli said. “We have had a lot of ups and downs this season, but we were just so thankful for the relationships that we have made this season.”
That appreciation extended beyond the seniors themselves, as Flanery highlighted their steady leadership and impact on the team.
“I said earlier today that [the seniors] don’t get enough credit,” Flanery said. “[The freshmen] have done so many good things, but there are so many things that freshmen have to navigate, not just basketball-wise. I feel like the stability and the steadiness of [the seniors] and what they do for them on and off the court is probably overlooked.”
Another of the celebrated seniors was Kennedy Townsend, who was able to score 23 points on her senior night. This was Townsend’s fourth year with the Bluejays and her first season as a starter.
“She could have gone somewhere else and played more, you see what a great player she is,” Flanery said. “She could have gone somewhere else to play more, but she stuck it out, and she has always been a great voice in the locker room.”
Townsend echoed that sentiment, reflecting on why she chose to remain with the program.
“I’ve never been into taking shortcuts or doing what’s easy, and I knew how special Creighton was as a program,” Townsend said. “I have no regrets about my choice to stay. I’ve always been a fighter, and I never wanted to just give up because I knew how special things were here off the court, too. I haven’t regretted that for a minute.”
Kiani Lockett is also a senior but was unable to play most of her senior season after suffering a knee injury in November.
“I’ve told people that if [Kiani] is ever down, I have never seen it because she is always positive in front of the team,” Flanery said. “I am really impressed with her because it is hard to be injured and doubly hard to have to miss your senior year … So, I’m just really proud of her and really impressed with how she hasn’t let her adversity affect anyone else.”
Lockett’s resilience hasn’t gone unnoticed by her teammates.
“She could have easily packed it in and sat on the end of the bench, throwing herself a pity party, but she hasn’t done that for a single second,” Townsend said. “I think that speaks volumes about her character, and I think she’s going to be successful no matter what she does in life. I know that I’m going to have her for the rest of my life, and I’m so thankful that Creighton brought us together.”
After facing Butler earlier this week, the Bluejays have two games remaining in the regular season. Both are against Big East opponents: Providence this coming Thursday, and then Xavier on March 1.
The Bluejays have three games remaining in the regular season. The first of those three is tonight in Indianapolis, where they face the Butler Bulldogs. The game is airing on ESPN+ and will begin at 6 p.m.