WICHITA, Kan.--Wichita State held Creighton's dynamic scoring duo of Chevelle Herring and Kelsey Woodard to a combined 3-for-20, but the effort came up just short as the Shocks drop their come from behind attempt, 49-47.

The pair went a combined 2-for-18 in the game's first 30 minutes, and besides a pair of clutch threes from Woodard, the Shocks never allowed the two to reach their normal pace all afternoon. In fact, Herring failed to score a single point.

Junior Megan Neuvirth's 24 point and nine rebounds proved to be the difference that would ultimately place the game in Creighton's favor. The junior led all scorers and went 50 percent from behind the arc.

Freshman guard Haleigh Lankster recorded a career-high day, leading the Shockers with 14 points. Sophomore guard Jacie Hoyt helped pace the Shocker offense with 13 points, including a pair of threes.

The game went back-and-forth from tip-off in front of a season-high 2,836 fans. Lankster scored the first four points for the Shockers to open the game with a 4-2 advantage for the home team. Both teams appeared effected by the a first-half scoring lull similar to the one seen in Friday's game against Drake as both teams went one for their first seven shots.

Just under the 15-minute mark, Lankster was called for her second foul to put the Shocks' high scorer on the bench.

Junior guard Marisah Henderson took her spot and made an immediate impact. Her steal resulted in a three-point play when she dished off to Hoyt for the lay up and a free throw to put the Shocks up, 9-2.

While the Shockers offense took control of the scoreboard, their defense held the Bluejays to a 1-for-12 shooting start and an eight-minute scoring drought. WSU's defense worked diligently to keep Creighton's Herring and Woodard a combined 0-for 11 in the first half.

The drought wouldn't last. A three from sophomore Stephani Rhoten would highlight a 9-2 Creighton run, however, to tie the score, 11-11. Sophomore Kellie Nelson's three-point play gave the Bluejays their first lead of the afternoon, 14-11.

With just over three minutes to play, each team's defense continued to force turnover and keep each other's scoring to a minimum. Both remained locked at just 25 percent from the floor when senior forward Daria Frazier knocked down a jumper to return the lead to the Shockers, 15-14.

Seconds later, Frazier would be whistled for her third foul of the game with nearly three minutes remaining in the half. Again stepping up with a teammate in foul trouble, the Shockers responded with a 6-0 run to end the half with the lead, 20-15.

After going scoreless in the first, Woodard drained a three to tie the game at 20 in the opening minutes of the second half.

Lankster drove to the basket for a lay up to return the lead to the Shockers before Woodward responded with her second three of the half to again put the Bluejays ahead, 26-24.

Leading her team, Lankster struck again for a pair of lay ups to tie the game in suspense. The freshman guard's bucket resulted in the sixth tie of the contest, 28-28. Fittingly, Hoyt snuck in a three under the shot clock expiration just before Neuvirth could hit back-to-back threes of her own to allow Creighton the advantage, 36-34.

Neuvirth's three sparked a 14-1 Bluejay run to stretch their lead to the largest of the afternoon, 44-34.

Hoyt once more gave the game an exciting twist by draining a three and bringing the deficit back to single digits. Lankster's fast break basket cut Creighton's lead to five, 44-39, with less than two minutes remaining.   

Trying to ice the deal against the resilient Shockers, Woodard hit a pair of free throws to extend the Bluejays lead, but back-to-back baskets for Hoyt and Henderson proved the Shockers ability to fight from behind as they trailed just 48-43.

Although Henderson hit a jumper and a last second lay up, the Shockers would drop the never say die come-from-behind attempt.

The Shockers are in action again on Thursday, Feb. 12, when they head to Terre Haute for the second meeting of the season with Indiana State.

-Wichita State-