PELLA — Junior guard Jessica Helton (Nevada) had a career-high 18 points but it was not enough, as the Central College women's basketball team lost 71-61 to Coe College Saturday.

Central (9-10 overall, 2-8 Iowa Conference) held a 31-27 advantage at the halfway point but Coe (10-10 overall, 5-6 Iowa Conference) used a 44-point second half to edge the Dutch.

"Tremendously proud of our team effort today," said coach Chelsea Petersen. "Tremendously proud of being able to take the lead into halftime."

Junior guard Emily Dine (Oldsmar, Fla., East Lake HS) led Central with 19 points, including five 3s. Helton sparked the Dutch off the bench hitting an early 3-pointer and was a perfect 10-of-10 from the charity stripe.

"Jess Helton stepped up for us today," said Petersen. "She rebounded extremely well after Wednesday's game and I'm extremely proud of that."

Sophomore guard Kaitlyn Johnson (Stockport, Van Buren HS) had eight points, eight rebounds and four assists and freshman forward Kendall Brown (Moravia) had eight points and five rebounds.

Central outshot Coe 35.2 percent shooting from the field to 34.3 percent shooting from the field but the Dutch were outrebounded 51-33.

"We gave up too many rebounds in the second half," said Petersen. "Rebounds and second-chance opportunities were the difference in the game."

The Dutch continue Iowa Conference play Wednesday at Nebraska Wesleyan in a women's-men's doubleheader with the women beginning at 6 p.m. The Prairie Wolves defeated Central 80-71 at P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium this past Monday.

"We need to clean up some things offensively before Wednesday," said Petersen. "We need to continue to play defense the way we have lately."