PELLA—Center Kendall Brown (junior, Moravia) pumped in a career-best 24 points but the Central College women's basketball team hit a dry patch from the outside in a 61-58 loss to Westminster College (Mo.) Tuesday.
           
The Dutch dug a nine-point first-quarter hole and trailed by as many as 10 in the third quarter before finally taking a 54-53 lead with 2:24 remaining. But Central didn't make another field goal until the final second.
           
The Dutch could have made things easier on themselves but went 0-13 from 3-point range in the second half after hitting five threes in the first half. But Brown, who also had nine rebounds, kept them in it.
           
"Kendall played a great game," coach Joe Steinkamp said. "We've really emphasized all week getting her the ball inside so she could have one of those games we expect from her. She worked really hard to get position and the guards did a good job of getting her the ball."
           
Guard Kristin Hubert (senior, Hornick, Iowa, Woodbury Central HS) added 12 points and three assists while guard Jenna Clark (freshman, Story City, Roland-Story HS) had eight points and nine boards. Forward Sami Craig (sophomore, Altoona, Southeast Polk HS) had six assists and guard Emily Hay (sophomore, Stanwood, North Cedar HS) had four steals.
           
Westminster (2-1) outshot Central 40.3 percent to 39.7 percent while the Dutch had a 39-37 edge on the glass.
           
"We got off to a horrible start and we had a horrible start in the third quarter, too, but then we responded with a nice run," Steinkamp said.
           
"I told the team it felt like we played a three-quarter game. We've got to figure out how to get ourselves ready to play and sustain that intensity for four quarters."
           
Even when the shots weren't falling, Central generated some spark with a full-court press.
           
"The press got us back in the game," Steinkamp said. "We forced some turnovers. A lot of different players came off the bench and contributed. I thought Cynthia Rangel (sophomore, San Antonio, Texas, William J. Brennan HS) and Emily Hay sparked a run with some deflections. They really brought some energy."
           
Tuesday night's contest was the first of four games in eight days for the Dutch. Saturday they are in Galesburg, Illinois for a 1 p.m. game with Knox College. The Prairie Fire, 16-9 last year, take a 1-1 record into a Wednesday night game with Rockford University (Ill.).  The Dutch hold a 2-1 lead in the teams' all-time series. Central then heads to Monmouth, Illinois for a Sunday afternoon game at Monmouth College (Ill.).
           
"They're very similar teams to us," Steinkamp said. "We have to play well and figure out how to play a four-quarter game."