Central’s stout defense leads to women’s basketball win

PELLA- Three players scored in double figures when the Central College women’s basketball team defeated Northland College (Wis.) 91-32 Friday.

“I saw us play a lot of good basketball,” said coach Justin Weiland. “We made the right plays, and we played fast which is what we wanted to do. I saw a good variety of different shots and we finished around the basket better then we have been.”

Abby Johnson (senior, Ankeny) and Bailey Reding (junior, Grundy Center) each scored 14 points to lead all scorers. Johnson shot 6-11 from the field, added three rebounds and one assist. Reding shot 4-6 from the field, collected four rebounds and three assists.

Samantha Scott (senior, Davenport, North Scott HS) scored 12 points and collected four assists on 4-8 shooting from three-point land. Emily Naughton (sophomore, Indianola) scored eight points, grabbed four rebounds and dished out two assists. Gabby Moore (senior, Waterloo, West HS) led the team with five assists and scored eight points.

The Dutch (3-1) shot 40% from the field, 23.3% from behind the three-point line, and 75% from the free throw line.

The Central defense held Northland (0-1) to 23.1% from the field and 20% from three. Included with that, the LumberJills were held to two points in the third quarter and 11 points in the whole second half.

“Our second half defense was great,” said Weiland. “We were way more urgent and had more communication. In the first half we weren’t pressuring the ball as much as I would have liked us to but in the second half, we got closer and moved our feet better and had a higher sense of urgency.”

The Dutch welcomed back Kaitlyn Mumm (sophomore, Waukee, Des Moines Christian HS) who scored four points and collected one rebound in her first action of the season.

“We want to ease her in and get her leg sunder her and see some shots go in,” Weiland said. “We are excited to have her back, and she is a big part of what we did last season.”

The squad has a quick turnaround when Saturday it hosts the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire in the P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium at 1 p.m.