We are profiling each member of the 2011-12 Creighton women’s basketball team. Join us weekdays from now until the women’s exhibition opener against Rockhurst for an introduction to this year’s Bluejays, from freshmen to seniors.
See all of our 2011-12 Creighton women’s basketball profiles
Jordan Garrison shoots like a Korver (Creighton Women's Basketball)
In some people’s minds, shooting the 3-pointer is an art form. The long shot from the outside is always entertaining. Draining it with regularity is even better. Watching Jordan Garrison shoot 3s is a great combination of the two.
Garrison, a sophomore from Osceola, Missouri, can fire from long distance. At Bluejay Madness, she and partner Grant Gibbs won the 3-point shootout, with Garrison draining shot after shot. At media day, she barely took a break and probably put up about 50 shots before I got a chance to talk to her.
Though she has a lot of teammates that like to shoot the 3, it isn’t a competition between them all.
“It is fun to have someone to shoot with,” said Garrison. “Sammy, Ally, and I come to the gym to shoot. It is just fun to have someone to get shots up with.”
Garrison scored more than 2,600 points during her high school career. This season, Garrison is looking to get a chance to show some of that shooting ability on the court. Last season after having a spectacular game in the exhibition against Northwest Missouri State (10 points on 4-7 shooting from field; 2-4 from 3-point range), things turned for her. She missed the first 12 regular season games due to a stress fracture in her leg.
“I had stress fracture in my femur. I was on crutches for six weeks and then after that I could start walking again,” said Garrison. “Technically it was a six-week process, but I felt it affected me the whole season. I could never really get back in shape. My injury was from overuse, so I couldn’t just go put more hours in the gym. That’s what got me hurt in the first place.”
You could tell through the rest of the season by the time she came back, she was eased into the lineup. In the final game of the season against Northwestern in the WNIT, she played a season-high 10 minutes.
“I’m hoping (playing time) will expand from last year. I’m hoping to come out, get some shots and knock them down. Something I am really focusing on is defense and being a full court defensive player. That is my goal for the season,” Garrison said.
She is always trying to improve herself as a player. Part of that improvement is being mentally focused.
“You are always fatigued, so it is always hard to be mentally focused all the time. At the college level you have to be focused all the time or you won’t help the team out.”
While some may temper expectations for the season, there is a buzz about what could be for the Bluejays and a hope for some surprises for this team.
“I think we are going to have a good season and surprise a lot of people. This team has a great work ethic,” Garrison said. “I’m looking forward to not being hurt for half a season. Hopefully I can stay healthy and everyone else on the team can stay healthy.”