ROCK ISLAND, ILL.—A shorthanded Central College women's basketball team jumped to an early nine-point lead but couldn't weather Augustana College's (Ill.) relentless pressure in a 92-62 defeat Saturday night.,
           
The Dutch (6-5) were up 22-13 after the first quarter but then lost senior forward Jackie Kriegel (Marengo, Iowa Valley HS) to injury and saw their fortunes take an ugly turn. Meanwhile center Kendall Brown (sophomore, Moravia) got in early foul trouble and played just 14 minutes before fouling out, leaving Central thin on the front line. The squad was already without injured senior point guard Jessica Helton (Nevada).
           
Augustana (8-3) employed a full-court press throughout the night, forcing 30 Dutch turnovers and gradually took command, pulling ahead 40-39 at intermission, then stretching the lead to 15 after three periods and running away in the fourth quarter.
           
"We ran out of bodies to handle their pressure," said coach Joe Steinkamp. "Their press gave us fits. In the first quarter, when we were able to get stops, we didn't have to go against it as much. But after we lost Jackie, we didn't get a lot of the rebounds she normally gets and Augustana got a lot of second-chance points, then set up the press. It kind of snowballed on us."
           
Senior guard Alison Malaby (Mechanicsville, North Cedar HS) responded to the adversity with a team-high 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting and three assists.
           
"Alison played a great all-around game," Steinkamp said. "She shot it extremely well and you always know she will defend well. And she handled the press as well as anyone. We had her play point guard part of the time and we even had to use her as a post. She really showed her versatility."
           
Senior guard Emily Dine (Oldsmar, Fla., East Lake HS) added 14 points. Central shot 39.2 percent from the floor, including 41.7 percent from 3-point range. But the Dutch were outrebounded 47-36.
           
Central, 2-1 in the Iowa Conference, returns to league action Wednesday with a women's-men's doubleheader at Waverly, taking on nationally ranked Wartburg College. The Knights, rated No. 11 in the WBCA poll, handed No. 17 Wis.-Whitewater its first loss Saturday 64-55 in the Wartburg Holiday Tournament to improve to 11-0 overall and 2-0 in league play.
           
Steinkamp said it's unlikely that the Dutch will be back at full strength yet, but can't use that as an excuse.
           
"Injuries are part of the game," he said. "We have to take this game, learn from it and keep trying to get better. Everybody has to be ready to step up."