Creighton’s women’s basketball team refused to let a late-game deficit decide the outcome, rallying from behind to beat Marquette 80‑74 in overtime Sunday. The victory came on head coach Jim Flanery’s birthday. The Bluejays matched Marquette’s physical style, powered by freshman guard Ava Zediker and senior forward Grace Boffeli.
“I just thought we had great resolve … We played from behind most of the game, and I think that’s easier to do at home, but it’s hard to do with a young team.” Flanery said. “I just can’t say enough about grinding that thing out and how much we’ve improved in terms of just being able to find ways to win.”
The Bluejays opened the game with aggressive interior play. Boffeli drew contact in the paint and made a free throw for the first points of the contest. Zediker added a three-pointer that banked off the backboard, then drove through traffic, getting fouled and sinking two more free throws. Townsend, Neleigh Gessert, and McGee rotated into the lineup and helped play more physical defense. Heathcock took a heavy collision near the basket but still finished her layup, drawing a cheer from the crowd.
Marquette began to stretch its lead in the second quarter with fast drives and open looks. Creighton responded with a strong layup by McGee, followed by Boffeli scoring off a feed from Townsend after a timeout. Heathcock connected on a deep three, and Gessert scored with a clean jump shot, keeping the Bluejays within two points. Zediker attacked quickly after a turnover, drawing a foul and sinking a free throw to maintain momentum.
Marquette regained a slight lead in the third quarter, with Volker hitting a three and the Golden Eagles completing an alley-oop to stretch the lead to 10. Creighton responded with Zediker slicing through traffic for a contested basket and a free throw. After Boffeli’s shot bounced off the rim, Townsend grabbed it and finished at the basket. The Bluejays’ defense soon began to force Marquette into difficult passes and tough shots.
The fourth quarter became a back-and-forth battle. Zediker started with a quick three, and Boffeli pushed through contact to score in the paint. Creighton’s defense caused turnovers, and Heathcock added another three-pointer after stepping into a gap. Zediker drove again, drawing contact and converting free throws, while Townsend finished a fast-break sequence with a layup. By the final minute, Creighton had narrowed the gap, and the crowd’s energy swelled.
With just over 17 seconds left in regulation, Gessert tipped a loose pass and moved into space to shoot, sinking a three-pointer to tie the game at 67 and send it to overtime.
“It just shows that Neleigh didn’t have the best night shooting, but she just had confidence in herself, and we had confidence in her to hit that huge 3 to send us into overtime,” Boffeli said.
In the extra period, Boffeli immediately scored the first seven points with strong inside moves off rebounds. Zediker continued to drive, drawing defenders, finding open teammates, and finishing difficult shots herself. Free throws and decisive defensive stops allowed the Bluejays to pull ahead. Zediker then got her 25th point of the night with a basket through traffic. Creighton finished the overtime period with Boffeli sinking her final free throws, giving the Bluejays a six-point lead.
“I thought for 40 minutes plus overtime, we just stayed together and stayed connected. This is an amazing win,” Boffeli said.
Zediker, whose efforts earned her Big East Freshman of the Week honors, said strong defensive decisions sparked the offense.
“I think it just all started on the defensive end, just getting after those loose balls, getting big stops on defense, and I think that just kind of carried on to the offensive end, which helped get us going.”
She also praised Boffeli’s leadership as the most veteran player on a young Bluejay squad.
“She’s always talking and telling us what to do or what to look for,” the freshman noted. “She’s been great at that, but also, just down low, her presence, and then on offense, just her post ups and just owning the paint.”
Flanery credited communication and ball pressure late in the game.
‘“I just thought we were determined,” he said. “It started with Ava’s ball pressure and maybe just a little bit better early communication…I thought we stayed ahead of the play a little bit more.”
Creighton finished the overtime period with Boffeli sinking her final free throws, achieving a six point lead and raucous applause from DJ Sokol Arena. The Bluejays travel to face No. 1 Connecticut tonight, with tipoff at 6 p.m on Peacock. They return to Omaha this Sunday to play Villanova.
