Losing two key players for the season and starting 2-6 is usually not the most promising way for a team to finish the season in contention for the regular-season championship.

Don’t tell that to the Creighton Bluejays.

After losing junior forward Sam Schuett and senior guard Michelle Kaus to season-ending injuries the Jays had a tough non-conference schedule looking them in the eye.

While the non-conference stretch was rough, it may have paid dividends later as the Jays are playing solid basketball and have a nine-game winning streak after a road win over Wichita State.

The players and coaches agree that the tough schedule early in the season has helped them in Missouri Valley Conference play.

“It [the non-conference schedule] has helped so much. The fact that we have gone on the road and played some Big 12 schools, and even had some Big 12 schools at home, now we’re able in the last five minutes to keep our lead, or pull ahead and get the win,” junior forward Megan Neuvirth said.

Creighton women’s basketball head coach Jim Flanery agrees with Neuvirth, who was named Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week on Feb. 9.

“We’ve figured out what it is we need from each player,” Flanery said. “I mean, it sounds simple, but role definition changes when you have injuries, and we had injuries early. It takes awhile for people to figure out what it is they need to do for their team to be successful. The early schedule that we played helped us out. I mean, to win five games a row on the road, I think is testament to our toughness.”

The team hopes to ride this win streak throughout the rest of the regular season and into the conference tournament.

“I think our biggest [goal] is to win every game from here on out and of course finish at the top of the tournament,” sophomore guard Stephani Rhoten said.

Flanery, who listed Rhoten as a player who has increased her role during this win streak, may have a more basic approach to continuing the team’s success.

“The way I look at it you just come to practice every day and try to get better and prepare well for each opponent and at the end of the day the wins will take care of themselves,” Flanery said.

Throughout the winning streak, one thing the Jays have prided themselves on is their ability to limit their opponent’s offensive production. Of their last nine wins, they have held their opponent to under 50 points in six of those games.

Both Rhoten and Neuvirth, along with Flanery, agreed that the team has been playing well defensively.

“I think our defense has been really good and our communication, we are doing what we are supposed to do,” Rhoten said.

“I would say our defense, we have been holding teams to lower numbers and taking away their strengths,” Nevirth said.

Flanery agrees that the defense has been good, but he thinks there is always room from improvement.

“I think our half-court defense is close to where I would like it to be, but it can always be better,” Flanery said.

The Bluejays will seek their 10th

consecutive win on Thursday at home against the Evansville Purple Aces.