WAVERLY— Some offensive misfires kept the Central College women's basketball team from overcoming nationally ranked Wartburg College Saturday, tumbling 65-41.
           
Trailing 23-7 at the end of the first quarter, Central (4-4 overall, 1-2 American Rivers) went on a 12-3 burst to climb within 26-19 but then the offense went dry. Over the next 10 minutes, 6 seconds of the second and third quarters, the Dutch were outscored 23-4.
           
"We made our run because we were scoring in transition, which means we were getting stops on the defensive end," coach Justin Weiland said. "But then we stopped pushing the ball and we had a couple of turnovers that stifled our run."
           
Wartburg, ranked No. 14 in the WBCA Division III poll and No. 8 by D3hoops.com, improved to 7-0 overall and 3-0 in conference play. The Knights' defensive performance impressed Weiland.
           
"Credit to them, that's why they're one of the best teams in the nation," he said.
           
Central, which has played seven of eight games on the road, failed to put anyone in double figures but got nine points from point guard Emily Naughton (freshman, Indianola). Center CeCe Moore (freshman, Waterloo, West HS) had eight points and five rebounds while forward Kaityln Mumm (freshman, Des Moines, Christian HS) had eight points and four boards.
           
The Dutch hit five of their last eight shots but still only connected on 31.3% from the field while Wartburg shot 45.6%. Central shot 12.5% (2-18) from 3-point range and was outrebounded 39-20.
           
Perhaps the best news of the day was the return of point guard Hannah Dau (junior, Paullina, South O'Brien HS) and some additional minutes for guard Kassidi Steel (senior, New Sharon, North Mahaska HS). Both are returning starters but were sidelined by preseason injuries. Dau scored four points in 13 minutes of her first action of the season while Steel, who debuted in Wednesday night's win at Buena Vista, played 11 minutes and had two assists.
           
"I think it went pretty well for them," Weiland said. "Hannah was on a little bit of a minutes restriction, just like Kassidi was. But as long as she's not feeling too bad after the game, I'm pretty sure that will get lifted the rest of the way. It's nice to have those two back. They're two veterans that have been there and two more voices that we can use on the floor right now."
           
Central has a non-conference game Tuesday at North Central University (Minn.). Game time is 5 p.m. at Minneapolis. North Central is 3-3 after an 87-68 loss at home against Wisconsin-Stevens Point Saturday. Central was a 78-64 winner at North Central last year.