Central women’s basketball team fights back to win in overtime

PELLA- Trailing by eight going into the fourth quarter, the Central College women’s basketball team came back to draw even at the end of regulation and finished the 74-72 win against Grinnell College in overtime.

“Our team was resilient today,” said coach Justin Weiland. “I’ve got to give credit to Grinnell they played hard and hit some tough shots. In the past we have fought back in games like today but weren’t able to pull out a win, but today we stayed together and gutted it out and found a way (to get a win)”

Guard Abby Johnson (senior, Ankeny) led the Dutch (2-1) with 18 points shooting 6-13 from the field, and 4-6 from behind the three-point line.

“(Johnson) got us going in the fourth quarter hitting back-to-back big threes,” said Weiland.

Forward CeCe Moore (sophomore, Waterloo, West HS) scored 16 points, grabbed eight rebounds and blocked four shots. Emily Naughton (sophomore, Indianola) added 11 points and dished out six assists. She also collected three steals and added a blocked shot.

Off the bench Jasmyn Williams (junior, Denver, Colo., Arvada West HS) scored eight points, had four assists, three rebounds, one block and one steal.

“The discipline on the defensive end of the court helped us get back into the game,” Weiland said. “We stopped reaching and started being tighter, started getting stops and limiting offensive rebounds. We also made things easier on the offensive end to help us get back into the game.”

As a team Central shot 38.6% from the field, 29.6% from three-point range and 12-14 from the free throw line.

The Dutch have a busy weekend starting Friday when they host Northland College (Wis.) at 5 p.m. in the P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium as well as hosting the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire Saturday at 1 p.m.