Creighton's Lamberty One on One

New York, NY- Senior Guard/Forward from Creighton University, Sydney Lamberty took in the bright lights of New York City and Madison Square Garden on Thursday as she prepares for her final season playing in Omaha, Nebraska in blue and white.

I spoke with her on Thursday, as our WSJU crew will be covering the Creighton vs. SJU matchup on January 5th, 2018 at Carnesecca Arena. (7:00pm-ESPN 3/WSJU Radio)

Lamberty, 21, will be taking over as the leader of the squad, after four year starter Marissa Janning graduated and moved on overseas to play in the German DBBL "BG 74 Veilchen Goettingen" club. Janning, who was the leader of the Blue Jays and a former Big East Player of the Year, leaves the team with a hole at point guard. Losing the 2017 Big East Most Improved Player in Brianna Rollerson hurts as well. Sportsmanship Award Winner Lauren Works also graduated from the Creighton University last year. Between those three players, they combined for more than 30 points and 16 boards per game last season.

"They were both great leaders. It will definitely be hard to fill their old roles, but I know a lot of the girls are ready to step up and they've been learning from them (Janning, Rollerson, Works) over the years. I believe that we should have a good season."

The Cottage Grove, Minnesota native will have her hands full, when she plays aside a few names that were predominately bench players, such as freshman of the year from last season Jaylyn Agnew.

Lamberty appeared in every game last season for the Blue Jays, finishing with a total of 301 points, and achieving the Big East All Tournament Team Award after she delivered a career performance versus Marquette in the Big East Tournament. 26 pts, 15 boards were her final stats, as she finished the game with a win and a double-double.

Simply, going 24-8 (16-2 Big East) will be more of a challenge for this Blue Jays team. "It will be more of a communications thing moving forward. We lost a few personalities on the team, and hopefully those select few step up and be able to communicate what we are expecting as a team this year." Lamberty led the team in minutes last year with 1082 and averaged 9.2 PPG. Her counterpart in Junior forward Faber, led the team with 13 PPG.

Heading into the 2016-17 season, Jim Flanery's Blue Jays were 1-2 in the Big Dance. They exceeded expectations this past year, after being tied for first in the preseason coaches poll with DePaul and made it to the second round of the tournament in March. To begin the NCAA tournament, they dominated Toledo 76-49, then lost in a heartbreaker vs. Oregon State 52-64 a couple of days later.

"We have a few freshman that have stood out so far this preseason. I am excited where we are headed" The preseason polls are not as generous to Creighton this year as they were last year. They are projected to finish 5th in the Big East this year.

Lamberty and the Blue Jays open the season against a Wichita State Shocker club that finished 15-16 overall on November 10th in Omaha.

Creighton will be traveling to Jamaica, Queens on January 5th to play Imani Littleton and the St. John's Red Storm at 7:30pm (ESPN3/WSJU Radio)