OMAHA, Neb. (Interstat) — The Creighton women’s basketball team used a dominant third-quarter surge to pull away from Xavier and secure an 82-64 victory in a Big East Conference game Tuesday night at CHI Health Center.

The Bluejays, improving to 8-11 overall, broke open a contest that was a four-point game at halftime. Leading 34-28 after a sluggish second quarter, Creighton erupted for 26 points in the third period, outscoring the Musketeers by 14 to build an 18-point cushion. The offensive explosion, fueled by efficient ball movement and interior scoring, proved insurmountable for Xavier, which fell to 10-9.

Creighton’s offense was powered by the tandem of Grace Boffeli and Allison Heathcock. Boffeli, a 6-foot-1 forward from Eldridge, Iowa, scored a game-high 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting and grabbed a critical 10 offensive rebounds as part of a relentless effort on the glass. Heathcock, a 6-1 guard from Edmond, Oklahoma, orchestrated the attack with 14 points and a game-high five assists. The Bluejays capitalized on second-chance opportunities, outrebounding Xavier 16-10 on the offensive end, which led to a 19-9 advantage in second-chance points.

Xavier, which shot just 36.5 percent from the field, was led by Meri Kanerva’s 15 points and four assists. The guard from Espoo, Finland, played all 40 minutes. Mariyah Noel added 16 points for the Musketeers, and MacKenzie Givens scored 11.

The game’s decisive stretch began early in the third quarter. After Xavier’s Savannah White missed two free throws, Boffeli secured an offensive board and scored a putback. On the ensuing possession, Kennedy Townsend hit a jumper assisted by Heathcock to push the lead to 10. Following a Xavier turnover, Townsend connected on a three-pointer off a Boffeli assist, capping a 7-0 run that forced a Musketeers timeout with the score 45-34.

Xavier showed brief resistance with a Petra Oborilova three-pointer, but Creighton responded with a 9-2 run over the next two minutes. Heathcock found Boffeli for a jumper, and after a Musketeers miss, Heathcock stole the ball and fed Townsend for another three. The Bluejays’ ball movement and ability to convert off Xavier’s 11 turnovers created separation. By the time Neleigh Gessert sank a three-pointer in the final minute of the quarter, the lead had ballooned to 60-45, and Creighton never looked back.

The first half was a tale of two quarters. Creighton started quickly, building a 22-14 lead after one period behind eight early points from Boffeli. The Bluejays’ defense stifled Xavier in the second quarter, holding the Musketeers to 14 points on 5-of-17 shooting. However, Creighton’s own offense cooled considerably, managing only 12 points in the frame, which allowed Xavier to stay within six at the break.

For the game, Creighton shot 44.9 percent from the field and posted an offensive rating of 113.0 points per 100 possessions, a marked efficiency compared to Xavier’s 90.0 rating. The Bluejays also dished out 18 assists on 31 made field goals. Xavier, meanwhile, was hampered by its shooting and a lack of offensive flow, managing only six assists.

Kendall McGee provided a significant spark off the bench for Creighton, scoring 15 points, while Townsend finished with 12 points and four assists. Ava Zediker also reached double figures with 11 points.

The announced attendance was 865.

Xavier returns home to host Georgetown on Sunday. Creighton travels to face DePaul, also on Sunday.

The most important part of the game, as detailed in the play-by-play, was the opening sequence of the third quarter where Creighton established immediate control. Starting with Boffeli’s offensive rebound and putback just 40 seconds into the period, the Bluejays executed a decisive 12-3 run over the first 3:52. This stretch, featuring two assists from Heathcock and a three-pointer from Townsend, transformed a manageable six-point halftime lead into a 15-point advantage. It set a physical and efficient tone for the entire second half, overwhelming Xavier’s defense with inside-out play and capitalizing on Musketeer mistakes, ultimately deciding the contest long before the final buzzer.