News Release

PELLA, Iowa — Behind a season-high 26 points from center Ashley Nekola and a flurry of three-point baskets, the Central College women’s basketball team stunned second-place Buena Vista 82-78.

Central, just 3-16 overall and 3-9 in Iowa Conference play, was overwhelmed by the Beavers in 101-69 in the league opener Nov. 29 at Storm Lake. But the Dutch placed four players in double figures in dropping the Beavers to 12-7 overall and 7-3 in the league. BV got a game-high 33 points and seven assists from guard Katie Maguire but couldn’t stop a relentless Dutch attack.

Nekola hit 12 of 17 shots from the floor and grabbed nine rebounds while freshman forward Emily De Jong had 18 points and nine boards. Freshman guard Emily Conway added 14 points and six assists, guard Morgan Martin had 12 points, five rebounds and four assists and guard Laura Porter had eight points and eight assists.

Central came out firing, hitting eight three-pointers in a frantic first half. The Dutch led by as many as 10 at 35-25 but BV appeared to subdue the upset bid by coming back to take a 51-47 halftime lead.

Yet the game remained tight most of the second half. Buena Vista was up 68-64 with 10:41 remaining when Central went on a 14-2 run, fueled by eight points from Nekola, and it was 78-70 Dutch at the 6-minute mark. The shooters’ legs on both clubs seemed to grow weary in the closing minutes. But two De Jong free throws with 9 seconds left put Central up 82-76 and Maguire scored BV’s only bucket of the last 3:41 on an uncontested layup with 2 seconds left.

Coach Natalie Nakic said she could sense an upset brewing earlier.

“I was not happy with how we practiced yesterday,” she said. “I could see we were at a crossroads. We were either going to give up and just go through the motions in our last five games, or say we’re sick of it and find a way to make it to the conference tournament.

“So I sent them a pretty strong message and they responded.”

Playing aggressive offensively was a key, Nakic said.

“They were having trouble guarding us inside and we took advantage of that with Ashley (Nekola),” she said. “And when they collapsed inside, we did a good job of kicking it out, and we shot the ball with the utmost confidence. That was important.

“I told the team before the game, ‘They lit us up with their shooting in their gym, let’s see if we can do it to them in our gym. It was time.”

The Dutch will try to put together back-to-back wins for the first time this season when they play host to Cornell College Saturday afternoon in a league women’s-men’s twinbill starting at 2 p.m. at Kuyper Gym. Cornell pounded the Dutch at Mt. Vernon last Friday 83-55. The Rams are 6-13 overall and 4-6 in the league after escaping Coe Wednesday night 59-58. Saturday’s games will be broadcast on KRLS-FM (92.1) and www.kniakrls.com.