News Release

PELLA, Iowa — Center Cara Hegner had 19 points and 14 rebounds as the Central College women’s basketball team notched its first Iowa Conference win Tuesday, 55-48 over the University of Dubuque.

Forward Ashley Nekola added 14 points and nine boards for the Dutch, while Nikki Kayon and Lacey Speer each had 10 for Dubuque. Both squads are now 4-8 overall and 1-3 in the league.

Field goals were at a premium as Central shot just 26.9 percent from the floor and Dubuque mustered only 26.4 percent. But the Dutch held a 51-41 edge on the boards and came up with 18 steals, including five by guard Aimee Schmidt and four by Hegner.

The Dutch trailed, 31-30, at intermission after leading by as many as six, but limited Dubuque to just 17 second-half points. Down 33-30, Central went on an 8-0 run for a 38-33 advantage with 16:30 remaining. Dubuque battled back for a 42-40 lead with 12:10 left, but a Nekola layup and a three-point bucket by Katy Paxton put Central ahead to stay.

Central returns to the road Friday, meeting Wartburg College in Waverly at 6 p.m. before traveling to Mt. Vernon Saturday to take on Cornell College at 4 p.m.