By: Creighton Athletic Communications
Bluejays not Blue Jays:
Creighton's mascot is the Bluejays or Bluejay, one word. Conversely the MLB Toronto team is the Blue Jays.
Takeoff History
The Bluejays are 22-30 in season openers entering the game with South Dakota State. The Bluejays are 35-17 in home openers and 14-37 in road openers.
Under head coach Jim Flanery Creighton is 10-14 in the first game of the season and 7-17 in road openers.
This will be the fifth time the Bluejays open a season against South Dakota State, including the last three. Creighton is 1-3 thus far in openers against the Jackrabbits with a 78-69 win in 2022, but fell 63-56 in 2016, 76-71 in 2024 and 78-62 last season.
Exhibition Recap
Creighton played three scrimmages against Missouri State, Truman State and Missouri. The only reported score was a home win over Truman State, 72-61. The other two contests were played at Johnson Country Community College in Overland Park, Kansas.
Series with South Dakota State: Creighton Leads 11-7
Creighton leads the overall series with South Dakota State, 11-7. The Bluejays are 4-6 against the Jackrabbits on the road.
Series with South Dakota State:
Date Opponent Score
2/1/80 South Dakota State W, 74-68 (ot)
2/11/84 South Dakota State W, 78-43
3/20/08 & at South Dakota State W, 76-69
11/14/12 at South Dakota State W, 63-54
11/12/13 South Dakota State W, 68-63
3/23/14 & at South Dakota State L, 51-62
11/18/14 at South Dakota State W, 88-81
12/12/15 South Dakota State L, 51-53
11/11/16 at South Dakota State L, 56-63
12/15/17 South Dakota State W, 72-65
11/15/18 at South Dakota State L, 48-74
11/12/19 South Dakota State W, 61-48
11/30/20 at South Dakota State L, 47-66
11/21/21 South Dakota State W, 67-55
11/7/22 at #23 South Dakota State W, 78-69
12/21/23 South Dakota State W, 58-46
11/8/24 at #23 South Dakota State L, 71-76
11/3/25 South Dakota State L, 62-78
& = WNIT game
About South Dakota State
Located in Brookings, South Dakota.
The Jackrabbits went 27-7 last season, reaching the First Round of the NCAA Tournament.
Head coach Aaron Johnston has led SDSU to 19 postseason berths, including 14 NCAA Tournament berths under his helm.
The Jackrabbits return four of five starters from last season, including the return of 5th year and 2025-26 leading scorer Brooklyn Meyer (22.6 ppg).
About SDSU Head Coach Aaron Johnston
Aaron Johnston will begin his 27th season at SDSU against Creighton.
He has a 655-202 overall record and his 655 wins, he is SDSU's winningest women's basketball coach in program history.
Last season he guided the Jackrabbits to its 14th appearance in the NCAA Tournament.appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Scouting South Dakota State (0-0)
South Dakota State was already expected to be a strong team in 2026-27, but the unexpected return of Brooklyn Meyer last week makes an NCAA Tournament return an expectation.
This squad is headlined by Meyer's 767 points last season, but also returns 228 from Emilee Fox as well as 206 from Hadley Thul.
Scouting Creighton (0-0)
The core of six freshman from 2025-26 all returned, including All-BIG EAST First Team selection Ava Zediker and BIG EAST All-Freshman Team pick Neleigh Gessert.
Creighton must replace Grace Boffeli in the middle. Boffeli grabbed 269 rebounds last season. Minnesota transfer Nia Holloway will be asked to take on the bulk of that responsibility.