ROSEMONT, Ill. – Creighton forward Sarah Nelson couldn’t help but stare down as her coach, Jim Flanery, went on about how the Blue Jays and St. Johns had countless chances to win.
“It’s heart breaking,” Nelson said. “There were just so many things that could have gone one way or another.”
St. John’s forward Danaejah Grant scored 20 points and Aliyyah Handford added 19 as the Red Storm topped Creighton 68-63 Monday in a double overtime thriller at Allstate Arena.
“What a game,” St. John’s coach Joe Tartamella said. “I thought we got the spark we needed in the second half. I was really happy we were able to come out like that, especially since we played the day before.”
Both teams had countless opportunities to put the game away from the free throw line, but both teams struggled. Creighton went 15-22 from the line and St. John’s went an even worse 16-31.
Creighton led 48-41 with seven minutes remaining in regulation, but couldn’t hold on to the lead. St. John’s tied the game at 50 with 1:07 left.
Creighton forward Marissa Janning converted a much-needed 3-point play to put her team ahead 53-50 in the final minute. It was the lone bright spot for the Big East player of the year, who struggled shooting the ball. Janning had 11 points, seven rebounds and six assists, yet shot 2-14 on the afternoon.
St. John’s guard Briana Brown hit a quick layup to bring the Red Storm within two points.
Nelson missed one of two free throws and St. John’s Keylantra Langley made her only basket of the game to send the game to overtime. Nelson led the Blue Jays with 20 points and nine rebounds.
In the first overtime, both teams managed just four points. Nelson hit a 3-pointer with 52 seconds left to give the Blue Jays a 57-56 lead, but Janning split a pair of free throws to give St. John’s one more opportunity to tie.
Grant made a clutch pair of free throws to send the game into a second overtime.
“To Grant’s credit, she’s 2-9 from the line before and steps up there to make two,” Flanery said. “That’s a tough thing to do, especially at that age and that moment. When we play each other, it tends to be a grind it out game and this was no exception.”
Grant would foul out to start the second overtime and Nelson hit a pair of free throws to tie the game at 60. Creighton would temporarily take the lead when guard McKenize Fujan split a pair of free throws and also make a layup to put the Blue Jays ahead 62-61.
St. John’s regained the lead after a Jade Walker layup. The Red Storm would end the game on a 6-0 run.
Creighton led 25-22 at halftime. St. John’s guard Aaliyah Lewis hit a 3-pointer from half court to end the half.
St. John’s advances to the Big East finals on Tuesday. They will take on DePaul at 8 p.m. at Allstate Arena. The two teams split the meetings in the regular season.
“In our two games, we have seen a defensive battle and an offensive battle,” Tartamella said. “We’ve seen two extremes so it will be exciting to see.”