Providence College Athletics
Providence College
Creighton
Women's Basketball Game Notes vs. No. 25 Creighton
1/3/2023 11:32:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Friars and Bluejays tip-off at 7:00 p.m. (ET) on Wednesday, Jan. 4 in Omaha, Neb.
GAME NOTES (PDF) | WATCH LIVE | LIVE STATS
FRIARS COMPLETE FOUR-GAME ROAD STRETCH AT CREIGHTON... Providence College will complete a four-game road stretch at No. 25 Creighton on Wednesday, Jan. 4. The game will tip-off at 7:00 p.m. (ET) at D.J. Sokol Arena in Omaha, Neb.
FRIARS FINISH NON-CONFERENCE PLAY 9-2... The Friars finished their non-conference slate with a 9-2 record. It marks the most victories in regular-season non-conference play since 2019-20 (9-3).
FRIARS VS. BLUEJAYS ALL-TIME... Providence and Creighton have met 19 times during the history of the two women's basketball programs. The Bluejays lead the all-time series, 16-3. Creighton swept the regular-season series during the 2021-22 campaign.
LAST TIME PROVIDENCE DEFEATED CREIGHTON... The Friars last defeated the Bluejays on Feb. 10, 2021. On that day, Providence claimed a 60-48 victory over Creighton at D.J. Sokol Arena.Â
LAST TIME PROVIDENCE DEFEATED A RANKED OPPONENT... The last time Providence defeated a ranked opponent dates back to Jan. 23, 2013. The Friars claimed a 65-60 victory over then-No. 25 Villanova at Alumni Hall.Â
FRIARS VS. RANKED OPPONENTS IN 2022-23... The Friars are 0-2 this season vs. nationally ranked opponents and 0-1 vs. opponents receiving votes in the national polls. Providence fell to then-No. 3/3 Connecticut (98-53) and then-No. 25/RV Villanova (79-54) to open BIG EAST play. On Dec. 18, the Friars dropped a 63-55 decision to then-RV/RV St. John's. The very next day, the Red Storm entered the national polls for the first time since 2015.
SECOND-HALF RALLY COMES UP SHORT AT DE PAUL... In their most recent game on Dec. 28 at DePaul, the Friars trailed by as many as 24 points in the first half and staged an impressive second-half comeback to get within three points on two occasions during the fourth quarter. Providence outscored the Blue Demons 28-12 in the third quarter as Meghan Huerter (9 points) and Olivia Olsen (6 points) combined to score 15 points in the frame. Huerter opened the fourth quarter with a three to help Providence inch within 58-55. Brynn Farrell had the Friars within three for a second time with 6:04 to play in regulation, but DePaul answered with five-straight points to claim an eight-point cushion as Providence went silent from the field or more than four minutes. The Blue Demons held on for a 78-69 victory.
BRYNN FARRELL AND MEGHAN HUERTER GET HOT FROM DEEP... Brynn Farrell and Meghan Huerter each recorded career highs in the scoring column in the Friars' most recent game at DePaul (Dec. 28). The duo did most of their scoring beyond the arc, as they combined to shoot 10-17 from three-point territory. Farrell finished the night with a career-best 21 points on 7-13 shooting, including a 5-8 performance from deep. Huerter hit for a career-best 15 points in just 12 minutes of action as a reserve. She connected on 5-9 attempts from three-point land. As a team, Providence finished 10-22 from beyond the arc in the game and its 10 three-point buckets marked a season high.
DEFENSE WINS GAMES... The Friars have held 10 of their 15 opponents below 40-percent shooting from the field this season and are 9-1 in those games. PC lost for the first time when holding an opponent below 40-percent in its most recent game on Dec. 28 at DePaul. The Friars held the Blue Demons to 37.7-percent shooting and dropped a 78-69 decision.
HOME-SWEET-HOME... Providence owns a 9-6 record this season, including a 7-1 mark on their home court (Alumni Hall). Providence's lone home loss came at the hands of No. 25 Villanova (79-54) on Dec. 4. The Friars are 2-5 on the road.
KYLEE SHEPPARD LEADS OFFENSE IN BIG EAST PLAY... Kylee Sheppard leads the Friars in scoring during BIG EAST Conference play with 10.7 points per game. The sophomore guard is shooting 50-percent from the field (12-24) through three league games and also has averaged 3.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.
PLAYER MAKER ON OFFENSE... Janai Crooms leads the team in scoring (12.6 ppg) and assists (4.1 apg) through 15 games. As a team, Providence has made 364 field goals this season and Crooms has scored or assisted 40-percent of Providence's buckets (143).Â
JANAI CROOMS STANDS ALONE... Janai Crooms is only active player in the league with more than 1,000 points, 600 rebounds, 400 assists, 125 steals and 100 blocked shots in her career. Through 15 games this season, Crooms ranks 18th in the BIG EAST in scoring (12.6 ppg), eighth in rebounding (7.5 rpg), fifth in defensive rebounds (5.5 drpg), fifth in assists (4.1 apg), sixth in field-goal percentage (.533), ninth in blocked shots (1.0 bpg) and ninth in assist/turnover ratio (1.5).
20 SOMETHING... Janai Crooms has scored 20+ points in three of the Friars' 15 games. Olivia Olsen recorded the first 20+ point game of her career against Brown (22) on Dec. 7. In the Friars' most recent game at DePaul (Dec. 28), Brynn Farrell dropped a career-best 21 points. Five players on the Friars' roster have recorded at least one 20-point game during their careers: Crooms (eight), Kylee Sheppard (two), Olsen (one) Farrell (one) and Emily Archibald (one).
1,000-POINT MILESTONE... Janai Crooms scored her 1,000th point in the Friars' season opener vs. Dayton on Nov. 7. She entered the game 14 points shy of the milestone and hit the mark with 7:41 left in the third quarter. Crooms heads into Wednesday's game at Creighton ranked 23rd all-time in career scoring at Providence with 1,175 points.Â
CLIMBING THE LADDER... Janai Crooms ranks eighth on the Friars' all-time career assist list (400). Crooms dished 171 of her 400 assists during her two seasons at Ohio State (2018-20), added 65 at Michigan State (2020-21) and has registered 164 dimes with the Friars (2021-present). Through 127 career games, Crooms has averaged 3.15 assists per contest.
CROOMS CRACKS TOP-25 IN REBOUNDING... In addition to being ranked among Providence's all-time leaders in scoring and assists, Crooms also has cracked the top-25 in career rebounding at PC. She currently ranks 21st on the Friars' all-time list with 617 rebounds. She has recorded double-digit boards in three games this season, including a season-high 17 boards against Weber State on Nov. 26. Her 17 boards mark the highest single-game total by a BIG EAST guard this season, and is the third highest single-game total overall.
SINGLE DIGITS... Seven of the Friars' 15 games have been decided by nine points or less and the team has posted a 3-4 record in those games. Additionally, Providence has posted a 1-1 record in games decided by three points or less.Â
BOARD IT... The Friars have out-rebounded 12 of their 15 opponents this season and have posted a 9-3 record in those games. Providence is 0-3 on the season when it secures fewer rebounds than its opponent.
START STRONG... The Friars are 9-1 this season when leading at halftime. Providence's only loss when holding a halftime lead came against Rhode Island on Nov. 14. The Friars led 50-40 at the break and fell to the Rams, 74-72.
FRIARS PUT UP SEASON-BEST 85 POINTS AGAINST BRYANT... Providence defeated Bryant, 85-60, on Nov. 27. It marks the highest single-game scoring total for the Friars since Nov. 14, 2017, when the squad claimed a 98-95 overtime victory against Northeastern. Additionally, it's the first time Providence scored 80+ points in a game since Feb. 8, 2019 when it defeated Seton Hall 82-75.
LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY SINCE 2018-19 SEASON... The Friars defeated Central Connecticut, 77-45, on Dec. 10. The 32-point win is the largest margin of victory since defeating Bryant by 44 (74-32) on Dec. 7, 2019. The Friars have won two games this season by 30-or-more points. Providence defeated Hartford, 60-30, on Nov. 25.
DOUBLE-DIGIT SCORERS... Nine of the 12 players on the Friars' roster have scored in double figures at least once this season, and seven of the nine have reached double digits in multiple games. The challenge for the Friars is putting those individual scoring efforts together, consistently. Providence is 5-1 when they have three or more players in double figures. In the remaining nine games, just two players (or fewer) have reached double digits in the scoring column and Providence has posted a 4-5 record in those games. Olivia Olsen leads Providence in double-digit scoring games (nine), followed by Janai Crooms (eight) and Brynn Farrell (six).
FIVE FRIARS IN DOUBLE FIGURES... Providence has had five players reach double figures in the same game three times this season. The team first achieved the feat against Bryant (Nov. 27): Crooms (19), Koch (13), Archibald (12), Farrell (12) and Efosa (10). It marked the first time five Friars scored in double digits in a single game since Feb. 23, 2019 vs. Creighton. Providence also had five players in double figures against Central Connecticut (Dec. 10): Crooms (16), Olsen (15), Huerter (11), Cook (10), Farrell (10). The Friars saw five players reach double-digits in its most recent game against Sacred Heart on Dec. 20: Kylee Sheppard (13), Brynn Farrell (13), Grace Efosa (12), Olivia Olsen (11), Janai Crooms (10).
ALL GROWN UP... Last season, the Friars featured one of the youngest rosters in the BIG EAST Conference with six freshmen. Those six players entered the 2022-23 season having earned a wealth of experience, with each player seeing action in 20-or-more games as a rookie. Audrey Koch and Olivia Olsen were two of just three players on the roster to compete in all 30 games last season. Additionally, Emily Archibald, Kylee Sheppard and Koch each started 15-or-more games.
NEWCOMERS... The Friars added two transfers and one freshman to the roster in 2022-23. Graduate student Logan Cook played four seasons at Iowa, during which time the Hawkeyes won two Big Ten titles (2019, 2022) and advanced to the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament (2022) and Sweet 16 (2019). She played 53 career games and averaged 1.5 points and 1.5 rebounds per game. Junior Brynn Farrell played two seasons at Florida, where she played 28 games for the Gators after being slowed by an injury. She averaged 2.9 points and 1.0 rebound per game and connected on 22-28 free throw attempts in two seasons (.786). Kammie Ludwig is the lone true freshman on the squad and attended Geneseo High School prior to arriving on campus. The 3A All-State selection and IBCA All-State honoree averaged 24.6 points per game as a senior and finished her career as Geneseo's all-time leading scorer (1,881 points).
JANAI CROOMS MAKES CONSECUTIVE APPEARANCES ON BIG EAST WEEKLY HONOR ROLL... Janai Crooms earned a spot on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll in back-to-back weeks (Nov. 21 & 28). To claim her most recent recognition, Crooms was named Most Outstanding Player of the Friar Thanksgiving Classic (Nov. 25-27) after averaging 11.0 points, 13.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game in a 3-0 week for Providence.
KYLEE SHEPPARD NAMED TO BIG EAST WEEKLY HONOR ROLL AS FRIARS CLOSE NON-CONFERENCE PLAY... Sophomore guard Kylee Sheppard was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Monday, Dec. 26. She posted her first career double-double against Sacred Heart on Dec. 20, with 13 points and 10 rebounds. She also added four assists, two steals and a career-best two blocked shots.Â
OLIVIA OLSEN NAMED TO FRIAR THANKSGIVING CLASSIC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM... Olivia Olsen was named to the Friar Thanksgiving Classic All-Tournament Team, following Providence's three victories over Hartford, Weber State and Bryant (Nov. 25-27). Olsen led the Friars in scoring (13.0 ppg) and contributed 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocked shots, 1.0 assist and 1.0 steal per game. She shot 55.6-percent from the field (15-27) and 90-percent from the foul line (9-10).Â
JANAI CROOMS NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST TEAM... Senior guard Janai Crooms was among the list of 11 student-athletes named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team, released at the league's annual media day on Oct. 18 at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y. Crooms is entering her second season with the Friars and her final season of NCAA Division I basketball. In addition to her time at Providence (2021-present), she also played two seasons at Ohio State (2018-20) and one season at Michigan State (2020-21). A year ago, Crooms was named All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention after leading the Friars in scoring (13.8 ppg), rebounding (7.2 rpg) and assists (3.5 apg).
2021-22 UNANIMOUS BIG EAST ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM HONOREE KYLEE SHEPPARD RETURNS FOR SOPHOMORE CAMPAIGN... Kylee Sheppard missed a third of her rookie season with injuries, but still found a way to make a significant impact during her time on the court. She appeared in 20 of the Friars' 30 games and averaged 9.6 points, 3.2 rebounds. 2.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Sheppard finished the year ranked third on the team in scoring and second in assists and steals. She shot 40.2-percent from the field (68-169), including 24-68 from three-point territory (.353), and recorded eight double-digit scoring games. Sheppard notched 20+ points in two games as a rookie, and both came during BIG EAST regular-season play, including a career-best 22 points against DePaul (Jan. 7) on 9-12 shooting from the field.
BIG EAST PRESEASON COACHES' POLL... The Friars were picked to finish eighth in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll, with 34 points. Connecticut is picked to win the league, having collected 10 first place votes and 100 points overall. Creighton (89 points) and Villanova (83 points; 1 first-place votes) round out the top three spots. Last season, the Friars finished eighth in the 2022 regular-season standings with an 11-19 overall record and a 6-14 mark in the BIG EAST.
FRIARS IN THE POSTSEASON... The Friars' last appeared in the postseason during the 2018-19 campaign. Providence's 2019 WNIT selection marked the program's 15th post-season appearance overall and first since 2010. In 2019-20, NCAA and WNIT Championships were canceled to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Friars did not qualify for postseason during the abbreviated 2020-21 campaign. Complete post-season breakdown follows (records in parentheses):
2018-19 WNIT Round of 16 (2-1)
2009-10 WNIT Quarterfinal Round (3-1)
1991-92 NCAA Tournament First Round (0-1)
1990-91 NCAA Tournament Second Round (1-1)
1989-90 NCAA Tournament East Regional (1-1)
1988-89 NCAA Tournament First Round (0-1)
1986-87 National Women's Invitational Tournament (1-2)
1985-86 NCAA Tournament First Round (0-1)
1981-82 EAIAW Regional Tournament (0-1)
1980-81 EAIAW Regional Tournament (0-1)
1979-80 EAIAW National Tournament (3-1)
1978-79 EAIAW Regional Tournament (0-1)
1977-78 EAIAW Regional Tournament (1-1)
1976-77 EAIAW Regional Tournament (2-2)
1975-76 EAIAW Regional Tournament (1-2)
WHAT'S NEXT... The Friars return to Providence, R.I. to host Seton Hall in BIG EAST action on Sunday, Jan. 8. It marks the first home game for Providence in 21 days, as the squad played each of its last four games on the road. Tip-off against the Pirates is slated for 1:00 p.m.
