Central opened the game with 14 unanswered points, not allowing the Oles to score until seven minutes had expired.
St. Olaf battled back, making a 12 point run of their own only trailing 23-22 with 2:40 left in the first half.
Early into the second half the Oles made a short run, cutting Central's lead to one point, but that was as close as St. Olaf would get.
Leading St. Olaf in scoring was Molly Simon with 15 points and was 3-9 from three-point range. Kristy Larson had nine rebounds in the contest.
The Ole defense forced 28 turnovers on the night.
The Ole's next game, and home opener is Tuesday, Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m. in Skoglund Center.
11/23/04 4:30 p.m. at Pella, Iowa At Pella, Iowa CENTRAL COLLEGE 59, ST. OLAF (MINN.) 46 ST. OLAF (MINN.) (0-1) Molly Simon 5-12 2-2 15; Kristy Larson 3-10 2-2 8; Jenny Dettle 3-3 1-2 7; Danielle Stoermer 1-5 4-6 6; Christina Sampson 2-9 0-0 5; Holly Grimsrud 2-7 0-0 5; Kristina Stoermer 0-2 0-0 0; Laura Jorgenson 0-4 0-0 0; Chr. Schwichtenberg 0-7 0-1 0. Totals 16-59 9-13 46. CENTRAL COLLEGE (1-2) LENOX, Rachel 7-13 1-4 17; SCHMIDT, Aimee 3-8 1-3 9; HENSCHEN, Leah 4-5 0-0 8; PAXTON, Katy 2-6 1-2 6; MENDENHALL, Ann 2-6 0-0 5; NEKOLA, Ashley 2-6 1-2 5; WEILER, Maria 1-2 2-2 4; MARTIN, Morgan 1-3 0-2 3; DOWLING, Danielle 1-3 0-1 2. Totals 23-52 6-16 59. St. Olaf (Minn.).............. 22 24 - 46 Central College............... 28 31 - 59 3-point goals-St. Olaf (Minn.) 5-23 (Molly Simon 3-9; Christina Sampson 1-5; Holly Grimsrud 1-4; Laura Jorgenson 0-2; Chr. Schwichtenberg 0-3), Central College 7-16 (LENOX, Rachel 2-5; SCHMIDT, Aimee 2-5; MENDENHALL, Ann 1-2; MARTIN, Morgan 1-1; PAXTON, Katy 1-3). Fouled out--St. Olaf (Minn.)-None, Central College-None. Rebounds-St. Olaf (Minn.) 37 (Kristy Larson 9), Central College 42 (NEKOLA, Ashley 10). Assists-St. Olaf (Minn.) 13 (Molly Simon 3), Central College 17 (SCHMIDT, Aimee 7). Total fouls-St. Olaf (Minn.) 17, Central College 13. A-100