News Release

PELLA, Iowa — Analee Gray had a career high 23 points, but it wasn’t enough as the Central College women’s basketball team fell to Elmhurst (Ill.) in a 63-61 decision that came down to last second shot.

In a game that was tied 10 times and had 10 lead changes, Central (0-6) hung tough with the 9-1 Bluejays. The Dutch fought back from a 15-10 deficit with 8:17 left in the first half to take a 23-20 lead at halftime.

Central held an advantage for the first five minutes of the second half until Elmhurst went on a 15-3 run, giving them a 40-32 lead with 9:46 left in regulation.

The Elmhurst run ended when Stephanie Snitker converted a free throw after a made lay up. Fellow freshman Emily De Jong hit a three pointer after a Laura Porter steal to cut the opponent’s lead to 48-40.

Central remained close until the five-minute mark when Gray nailed one of her four three-pointers gave Central a 52-50 advantage.

The lead would not last long as Elmhurst’s Vicky Miner answered with a three-pointer of her own the next possession.

With Central trailing 57-56 with 1:54 to go, Gray dropped in another three-pointer to give Central a late 59-57 lead.

Elmhurst tied it at 61 with 34 seconds left to play and went ahead with nine seconds remaining. A De Jong missed three-pointer, led to an Elmhurst lay up, which proved to be the game-winning basket.

“We thought (Elmhurst) was going to anticipate the same play we ran at the end of the second half,” said coach Natalie Nakic. “After we saw how they were set up, we decided to let Porter drive and dish. It worked, but we just didn’t make the shot.”

Porter’s drive brought the defense to her and she passed to Snitker who missed the lay up with no time left on the clock.

“Analee told me there was no way she was settling for anything less than a win today,” said Nakic. “She is our lone senior on the court, and she really stepped it up today.”

The Dutch kept in the game by free throws making 14-17, opposed to Elmhurst’s 2-4.

“I wish we had taken more advantage of their foul trouble,” said Nakic. “We got in the bonus early in both halves. Those are easy buckets, and we stress getting to the line. Our goal is to shoot 80 percent, and we did that.”

The Dutch are off until Wednesday, Dec. 28, when they travel to Thousand Oaks, Calif., where they will take on Cal. Lutheran.