STORM LAKE—Guard Abby Johnson (junior, Ankeny) drilled a career-high six 3-point goals as the Central College women's basketball team posted its first American Rivers win with an 88-70 runaway at Buena Vista University Wednesday.
           
Johnson scored 22 points in just 21 minutes of action as coach Justin Weiland emptied the bench early. The Dutch (4-3 overall, 1-1 conference) rolled up a 46-33 halftime lead and coasted through the second half. Johnson hit eight of 13 field goals and was just two points off her career high of 24 points, which also came at Buena Vista Feb. 15.
           
"She was super efficient," Weiland said. "That was one of the things I talked with her about. I said, 'You're in there to score but how do we find ways to make you more efficient and take fewer shots but make more?' She's doing a great job of just taking the right shots and she is shooting the lights out from three right now."
           
Center Allison Van Gorp (junior, Pella, Pella Christian HS) recorded her 12th career double-double and her first of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Center CeCe Moore (freshman, Waterloo, West HS) came off the bench to score 10 points, the best of her young career.
           
Central also got an emotional lift with the return of guard Kassidi Steel (senior, New Sharon, North Mahaska HS), the team's lone senior. She's been sidelined by injury and made her first appearance of the season, making a limited appearance of just 13 minutes but still passed out a game-high five assists.
           
"It was super nice to get Kassidi back," Weiland said. "Even though she didn't score, she did what Kassidi does and got us a couple rebounds and five assists with zero turnovers."
           
Weiland is hoping she can steadily expand her role and is eyeing the return another veteran guard, Hannah Dau (junior, Paullina, South O'Brien HS), who is also coming off injury. The Dutch played the first six games without the two returning starters.
           
Central outshot Buena Vista from the field 48.6% to 37.5%. The Dutch knocked down 13 3-pointers and hit 39.4% from long range. Central also held a 39-33 rebounding advantage as Buena Vista dropped to 1-3 overall and 0-1 in conference action.
           
"It was just a great team win," Weiland said. "To shoot 49% from the field and almost 40% from three along with 21 assists to 12 turnovers, you're not going to lose a whole lot of games doing that."
           
Central travels to Waverly Saturday to take on nationally ranked Wartburg College as part of a women's-men's doubleheader with the women's game starting at 4 p.m. Wartburg is ranked No. 14 in the WBCA Division III poll and No. 8 by D3hoops.com. The Knights are 7-0 overall and 3-0 after taking down nationally ranked Loras College 64-56 in a pivotal early season conference match-up at Dubuque Wednesday.
           
Saturday's games will be broadcast on KRLS-FM (92.1) with Tyler Crabb and can also be heard via kniakrls.com or through the KNIA-KRLS mobile app.
           
"Now we get a chance to play one of the best teams in the nation," Weiland said. "Hopefully we'll have good practices on Thursday and Friday and just go give them everything we've got."