PELLA—A stout defensive effort was undone by mistakes on the offensive end in Central College's 63-56 women's basketball loss to Simpson College Tuesday.
           
In the team's home opener, the Dutch (2-2 overall, 0-1 American Rivers) turned the ball over 25 times.
           
"Yes, 25 turnovers that they turned into 22 points and there's your game," coach Justin Weiland said.
           
A shaky start saw Simpson (2-2 overall, 0-1 conference) jump to a 14-6 lead and the Dutch were down 21-14 after one quarter. They sliced the advantage to 33-28 at intermission and climbed to within 45-44 with 3:52 left in the third quarter but came no closer.
           
Freshman point guard Emily Naughton (Indianola) provided some offensive spark with 15 points.
           
"She's got a great downhill mentality," Weiland said.
           
Center Allison Van Gorp (junior, Pella, Pella Christian HS) had 12 points and a game-high eight rebounds.
           
"Allison was great, especially in the first half," Weiland said. "She's been super aggressive and that's what we need."
           
Central was edged on the glass 40-39 but outshot Simpson 41.5% to 37.7% and came up with 12 steals, including five by guard Samantha Scott (junior, Davenport, North Scott HS).
           
Weiland also cited freshman forward Kaityln Mumm (freshman, Des Moines, Des Moines Christian HS).
           
"Kaitlyn did an amazing job of guarding," he said.
           
But Weiland said he was disappointed in Central's 2-of-13 shooting from 3-point range.
           
"We are a good 3-point shooting team," he said. "We're just not seeing our shooters. And our shooters aren't talking. That was one of the big things I talked about in the locker room is we need people who are willing and ready to shoot the ball."                          
           
Central doesn't return to conference play until traveling to Buena Vista University Nov. 29, but the Dutch travel to St. Louis this weekend for non-conference action. Saturday, Central meets Fontbonne University (Mo.) at 1 p.m. before taking on Webster University (Mo.) Sunday at 1 p.m. Fontbonne is 0-3, with two losses to nationally ranked opponents. The Dutch are 5-0 against Fontbonne and the teams last met in 2021.
           
"I want our team to feel this one a little big just so we understand what it's going to take," Weiland said. "We're still super young and it's going to take some time. But we get to bounce back and play a game on Saturday, play a game on Sunday and then come back ready to go. We'll get there."