Central rolls to another women’s basketball win in Tennessee
GALLATIN, TENN.—Knocking down eight 3-point buckets, the Central College women’s basketball team blasted Gallaudet University (D.C.) 83-50 to complete a two-game sweep in the Music City Challenge Wednesday.
Guard Abby Johnson (junior, Ankeny) drilled three buckets from long range and put up a game-high 20 points for the Dutch (7-5).
“Se’s been money from three all year,” coach Justin Weiland said. “For her to go 8-14 from the floor, 3-for-6 from three and get 20 points in 19 minutes, that’s big time.”
Center Allison Van Gorp (junior, Pella, Pella Christian HS) recorded her fourth consecutive double-double, her fifth of the season and 16th of her career with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
“Allison had another big game,” Weiland said. “Her fourth game in a row with a double-double, which is insane.”
Freshman guard Reagan Hofer (DeWitt, Central DeWitt HS) contributed a career-best 12 points off the bench in less than 14 minutes of action.
“She’s been playing really well lately,” Weiland said. “That’s why I kind of made it my mission to make sure she’s one of the first few off the bench. She was only in for 14 minutes but she made the most of it. She didn’t turn the ball over and she pulled every shot I wanted her to pull from three—2-for-5 for 40% from three, 12 points, love it.”
Central passed out 24 assists on its 32 baskets with five from point guard Emily Naughton (freshman, Indianola) and four each from guards Kassidi Steel (senior, New Sharon, North Mahaska HS) and Jasmyn Williams (sophomore, Denver, Colo., Arvada West HS).
Central outshot Gallaudet 42.1% to 33.8% and again dominated the boards, 57-34. The Bison (6-6) were 0-7 from 3-point range.
Weiland again used all 15 players on the trip and 14 scored, as the bench contributed 34 points. No player logged more than 20 minutes as the Dutch led nearly wire-to-wire.
“I want us to use our depth,” Weiland said. “We want to play fast and we’ve got strength in our numbers so we want to run teams into the ground and get as many possessions as we can.”
Central was up 20-14 after one quarter and 41-26 at the half, building the advantage to as many as 35 points in the fourth quarter.
“We definitely played better in the second half,” Weiland said. “I think we played better defensively.”
After a break for Christmas, the Dutch schedule takes a nasty turn. In Central’s final non-conference game, Millikin University (Ill.) visits for a 2 p.m. game Saturday, Dec. 30 in P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium. Millikin is ranked No. 13 in the WBCA Division III poll and took a 9-1 record into Wednesday evening’s game at No. 12-ranked Hope College (Mich.). Central then returns to American Rivers play Jan. 6 by traveling to No. 25-ranked Loras College in Dubuque.
Central and Millikin last met in 2018 and the Big Blue hold a 2-1 advantage in the series.
“Millikin is really good, obviously,” Weiland said. “And Loras is coming off two big wins in Puerto Rico. I’m just excited to see how much we’ve grown and go up against the best.”
