We are profiling each member of the 2012-13 Creighton women’s basketball team. Join us weekdays leading up to the regular season tip-off against Oklahoma (November 10) for an introduction to this year’s Bluejays, from freshmen to seniors.
Jensen gets to play alongside her sister again in 2012-13 (Spomer/WBR)
It is hard being a younger sibling. It is even harder when you are competing with a sibling day after day. Throw in increased expectations thanks to a sibling’s success. Luckily, Sammy Jensen takes that in stride.
The sophomore has a sister, Ally, who is senior for Jim Flanery’s Bluejays. Sammy and Ally spent last year as teammates, but the 2012-13 season started with some family competition.
In this year’s Bluejay Madness, Sammy Jensen again made the finals of the three-point shootout, this year with Isaiah Zierden as a partner. This time she faced off against Ally and her partner Doug McDermott. Both Jensens battled each other in their 30-second period and hit shot after shot against each other. Although Ally won that individual battle again (10-9), Sammy was able to walk away with a victory with Zierden outdueling McDermott.
“It was fun. Just something different we get to do at the beginning of the season and put the jerseys on and be in front of the fans before a game. It was a good experience to play with each other and do something else other than practice.”
The younger Jensen hits the court for her sophomore season looking to build upon the opportunities given to her last season as a freshman.
“Things are definitely easier this year than last year. I know what to expect — I know what practices will be like, how competitive it will be. Last year I didn’t know what to expect and how you have to bring it every day to every drill. You can’t just get by. You have to work hard on every drill or you will get shown up by other people. It is a lot more competitive this year.”
Jensen appeared in 30 of 33 games last season averaging 6.5 minutes a game. In the middle of the MVC season, Jensen played 10 or more minutes in four straight games. She sees her role expanding a bit this season.
“I think it will be similar to last year, just more of a defensive role and on offense moving the ball to get other people open, screening, or getting our key players the ball and getting stops on defense.”
There is a lot Jensen has been working on in the offseason to build up her game.
“I am getting stronger with the ball and shooting more. I’m working on one-on-one with Ally and other players that I work out with. Pretty much more of my game offensively.”
The women’s basketball team is picked as the preseason favorite to win the Missouri Valley Conference, and the Bluejays will play under high expectations. Jensen knows how important it is for them to live up to those projections.
“It will definitely be fun to play against Oklahoma and Kansas at home to see what we are made of. It is great having an opportunity to play against those teams, because Flan obviously believes that we are a really good team to put those teams on our schedule.”
Creighton plays their lone exhibition on Wednesday night against Southwest Minnesota State at D.J. Sokol arena starting at 5:00 p.m.