Box Score PELLA—Guard Abby Johnson's (sophomore, Ankeny) buzzer-beating lay-in capped a late flurry after a night of offensive frustration to deliver Central College's elusive first American Rivers women's basketball win, 60-58 over Buena Vista University Wednesday.
           
Down five with less than two minutes remaining, Central (4-11 overall, 1-5 conference) got a tying bucket from guard Kelsea Hurley (senior, Scottsdale, Ariz., Desert Mountain HS), whose spinning layup danced on the rim before dropping through with 20 seconds left to make it 58-58. Hurley then grabbed a rebound after a critical defensive stop and fired a long outlet pass to Johnson, who was racing down the floor, gathering herself before laying in the winning shot with 1.4 seconds left.
           
"It was a big climb to get it tied up and then to get a stop late with the five that were on the floor was huge," coach Moran Lonning. "We didn't stop playing. We looked ahead, Abby was down the floor, we kicked it ahead and they made a play. They made plays down the stretch."
           
Since the start of practices in the fall, Lonning has preached that style of offensive aggressiveness off stops.
           
"Once we get that rebound, we want to turn and sprint," she said. "We don't need to all be hanging around. We want to sprint and get down the floor."
           
Johnson finished with a team-high 15 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Hurley finished with 13 points and three assists while guard Samantha Scott (sophomore, Davenport, North Scott HS) had 12 points. Center Allison Van Gorp (sophomore, Pella, Pella Christian HS) had 10 rebounds.
           
Central hit just 31.9% from the field for the night but Lonning liked her team's determination.
           
"We found a way," she said. "We've had a really good week for us as a team. Our circle--we're figuring out we're all we need. We're changing things that need to be changed. We're coming together. We're believing in each other. We've just got to take it day by day and keep doing the things that we were doing leading up to this game."
           
Hurley was one who stuck with it despite some early struggles, Lonning said.
           
"I'm so impressed by how Kelsea finished the game," she said. "(Buena Vista's) Lindsey Anhalt is a really tough defender and they put her on Kelsea the whole game. But to hit that tough layup late in the game, and a three in the corner right before that, was big. I'm really proud of how she responded."
           
Lonning said Central also got a tenacious effort from guard Kassidi Steel (junior, New Sharon, North Mahaska HS), who moved to an off-the-bench role for Wednesday's game.
           
"She was out of the starting lineup today and, man, she didn't let that change anything," Lonning said. "She played so hard. She rebounded hard, she hit a huge three late, she had a really nice drive and she hit two big free throws with seconds to play. She leaves everything out there for her teammates. That's a really special player."
           
Buena Vista (6-9 overall, 1-6 conference) shot 36.8% from the floor and outrebounded Central 47-44. Buena Vista guard McKena Core had 27 points.
           
But it was Central with the win which Lonning hopes can build some confidence after a string of narrow defeats.
           
"Even though we've lost four games within a possession, I think those games have give us experience to now start winning these close games," she said.
           
Central travels to Decorah to meet Luther College in a women's-men's conference doubleheader Saturday starting at 2 p.m. Luther is 9-6 overall and 4-2 in conference play after dropping a 70-54 decision at Simpson College Saturday. Saturday's games will be broadcast on KRLS-FM (92.1). The broadcast can also be accessed via kniakrls.com.