Central women’s basketball team dominates the second half in win

PELLA- Trailing by 13 at halftime, the Central College women’s basketball team outscored the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire 16-5 in the third quarter and hung on to win 56-54 Saturday.

“In the first half we weren’t changing the levels (of the defense) and making them work,” said coach Justin Weiland. “We also brought a different energy on the defensive end and really got after it with a higher sense of urgency. The biggest difference was we let our defense fuel our offense.”

In the third quarter the Blugolds were held to 2-20 on field goal attempts and 0-7 from behind the three-point line.

Abby Johnson (senior, Ankeny) led all scorers with 25 points on 8-16 shooting including four made three pointers. She also added five rebounds and one blocked shot.

“She makes big time shots and there is a reason she is our go to look,” said Weiland. “We have to find different ways to get her easy shots in transition and get her open with our set plays, but big-time players make big time shots, and she did that today.”

Emily Naughton (sophomore, Indianola) scored 11 points and added five rebounds and led the team with four assists. CeCe Moore (sophomore, Waterloo, West HS) scored eight points and collected 14 rebounds including four offensive rebounds. Hannah Dau (senior, Paullina, South O’Brien HS) scored six points but also collected four steals.

This finishes a three-win week for the Dutch, and they return to the court for another busy weekend when they travel to Oshkosh, Wisconsin to take on the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Friday at 7:15 p.m. and they also play the University of Wisconsin Platteville Saturday at 1 p.m.

“It was a crazy week,” Weiland said. “We have signs up in our locker room saying we will rest when its thanksgiving, but we have two more challenging non-conference games next weekend.”