News Release

DUBUQUE, Iowa — Guard Morgan Martin had 16 points and six rebounds but an 18-point halftime deficit was too much for the Central College women’s basketball team to overcome in a 68-57 defeat at Loras College Saturday.

Martin hit 6 of 11 shots, including a pair of three-pointers, in coming off the bench for the Dutch. But Central (2-16 overall, 2-9 Iowa Conference) was limited to 24.1 percent shooting (7-29) in the first half as Loras took a 39-21 lead. The margin was 66-46 with 3:28 remaining when the Dutch made a late surge, outscoring the Duhawks 11-2 the rest of the way. Guard Laura Porter was held to four points but contributed a game-high nine rebounds, five assists and four steals.

Loras (7-11 overall, 5-4 conference) got 23 points and eight rebounds from guard Natalie Pucci.

The Duhawks shot 50 percent from the floor to Central’s 35.2 percent and held the upper hand in rebounding 35-26.

First-year coach Natalie Nakic said consistency remains her young club’s problem.

“We know what we need to improve,” she said. “We just want to go out and put together 40 minutes. Yes, we’re going to have times when we get tired, but we’ve just got to get mentally tough and fight through it.”

Central, playing its sixth road game in its last eight outings, is home Wednesday to take on Buena Vista in a women’s-men’s doubleheader. Game time is 8 p.m. at P.H. Kuyper Gym. The Beavers blasted Central at Storm Lake Nov. 29 101-69. They’re 7-3 in the league and 12-6 overall after defeating Cornell at home Saturday 81-73.