Hegner, limited by injury earlier in the season, finished with a team-high 19 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and two steals for the Dutch (2-5). With Central clinging to a 64-63 lead, her inside bucket put the Dutch up 66-63 with 28 seconds left. Mt. Mercy’s Marci Clayton made it 66-65 with 13 seconds remaining and Hegner was fouled with six seconds left. She hit one of two free throws and a Mt. Mercy 3-point try misfired, dropping the Mustangs to 5-5.
Central also got 17 points from guard Katy Paxton, who hit four of seven 3-point attempts, and from forward Ashley Nekola. Guard Morgan Martin hit six of seven shots for 12 points.
Mt. Mercy outrebounded the Dutch, 42-34, but shot only 35.5 percent from the floor, including 18.2 percent from the 3-point stripe. Central shot 49 percent, including 55 percent in the second half.
Clayton had 19 points for the Mustangs.
Central travels to Oskaloosa Friday for a non-conference game with William Penn, then closes its pre-Christmas schedule by taking on Grinnell College at Kuyper Gym Saturday at 2 p.m.
CENTRAL 67, MOUNT MERCY 65 CENTRAL (2-5) HEGNER, Cara 9-11 1-5 19; PAXTON, Katy 5-10 3-4 17; NEKOLA, Ashley 4-9 9-10 17; MARTIN, Morgan 5-6 2-2 12; LENOX, Rachel 1-3 0-1 2; DOWLING, Danielle 0-1 0-0 0; HENSCHEN, Leah 0-1 0-0 0; MENDENHALL, Ann 0-1 0-0 0; SCHMIDT, Aimee 0-7 0-0 0. Totals 24-49 15-22 67. MOUNT MERCY (5-5) Marci Clayton 6-16 7-8 19; Ali Goldsmith 4-6 2-4 10; Jenni Baker 2-13 5-8 10; Dani Anderson 2-4 2-2 6; Katie Smith 2-4 1-2 6; Rachel Watts 2-4 0-0 5; Jill Smith 1-5 0-0 3; Alaina Eaton 1-1 0-0 2; Addie McCreedy 1-2 0-0 2; Melissa Caster 1-2 0-0 2; Brianne Duncan 0-4 0-0 0; Danielle Hundt 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 22-62 17-24 65. Central....................... 29 38 - 67 Mount Mercy................... 27 38 - 65 3-point goals-Central 4-12 (PAXTON, Katy 4-7; MARTIN, Morgan 0-1; DOWLING, Danielle 0-1; SCHMIDT, Aimee 0-3), Mount Mercy 4-22 (Rachel Watts 1-3; Katie Smith 1-1; Jenni Baker 1-10; Jill Smith 1-4; Brianne Duncan 0-3; Dani Anderson 0-1). Fouled out--Central-None, Mount Mercy-None. Rebounds-Central 34 (HEGNER, Cara 8), Mount Mercy 42 (Marci Clayton 10). Assists-Central 12 (LENOX, Rachel 6), Mount Mercy 14 (Jill Smith 4). Total fouls-Central 18, Mount Mercy 18.