SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Visiting Creighton took a 32-30 lead over the Missouri State Lady Bears into the halftime locker room Friday (Feb. 5) evening at JQH Arena. The Bluejays got 13 points from senior Megan Neuvirth and outrebounded the Lady Bears by a 24-15 margin in a contest that featured four ties and nine lead changes.

After a brisk start that saw the Lady Bears score five points in the first 45 seconds of the contest, Creighton reeled off nine unanswered points to take a 9-5 lead.

Missouri State would heat up from long range to reclaim the upper hand with a 12-5 run. Jaleshia Roberson would start the spurt by hitting a three from the left corner and drawing a foul. After Roberson completed the four-point play to pull MSU even at 11-11, it was Jasmine Malone's turn to connect from long distance. Her triple with 12:23 left on the clock put MSU on top 14-13, and Roberson would hit from beyond the arc for the third time on the Lady Bears next possession to make it a four-point game.

CU would score four straight to momentarily leap-frog back into the lead with 8:24 to go. MSU, however, would come right back with baskets by Casey Garrison and Christiana Shorter to take a 21-18 lead.

The two teams would trade baskets over the last five minutes of the half before Neuvirth's bucket with nine seconds left in the period sent CU into the break with a two-point edge.

The Lady Bears converted 5-of-8 (.625) three-point attempts, including a 3-of-3 showing by Roberson.

Roberson led all scorers in the opening stanza with 14 points.