PELLA—A dramatic 3-pointer by guard Samantha Scott (junior, Davenport, North Scott HS) gave the Central College women's basketball team a chance before dropping a 65-63 decision to Coe College in the waning seconds Saturday.
           
Trailing 63-60 with just 14 seconds left, Scott took a pass from forward Kaitlyn Mumm (freshman, Des Moines, Christian HS) on the wing and knocked down the game-tying shot, her only bucket of the day.
           
But the Dutch (5-5 overall, 1-3 American Rivers) were whistled for a foul with :02 remaining. Coe (6-2 overall, 2-2 conference), which had missed four consecutive free throws in the previous 22 seconds, got a pair from guard Caydee Kirkham for the winning margin.
           
Coach Justin Weiland was encouraged to see Scott come through in the clutch.
           
"She didn't score all game and didn't see the ball go down but she's obviously one of our best shooters so hopefully that's a good way for our players to know that we have the ultimate confidence in them regardless of how they're shooting it that day," Weiland said. "She got the first look and she bombed it. That was a massive play to give us a chance."
           
The finish was tough to absorb but Weiland continues to see progress in his young squad.
           
"We played well for the most part," he said. "We've just got to find ways to be a little bit tougher on the defensive end and the offensive end when we start to get tired. We've got to fight through the idea of being tired and just make plays."
           
Center Allison Van Gorp (junior, Pella, Christian HS) posted her third double-double of the season and 12th of her career with 15 points and 15 rebounds.
           
"What I like is she's slowing herself down," Weiland said. "She's getting her shoulders turned on her post moves and she's trusting her left hand. That's going to be huge."
           
Guard Abby Johnson (junior, Ankeny) also had 15 points, hitting 5-of-9 3-pointers.
           
"For her it's just finding the right shots, finding those easy ones in transition, attacking the basket when she can or getting that pull-up jumper."
           
Point guard Emily Naughton (freshman, Indianola) added 10 points with four assists and two steals. Coe outshot Central 39.3% to 38.7%, although the Dutch hit 53.8% from the field in the fourth quarter and held a 44-36 rebounding advantage for the game.
 
The Dutch are off for final exams next week, then close out their pre-Christmas slate with a trip to Nashville, Tennessee for a pair of non-conference games. The Dutch will have a first-ever meeting with Roanoke College (Va.) in nearby Gallatin Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 5 p.m. (Eastern Time). Roanoke is 5-3 after defeating Eastern Mennonite University (Va.) Saturday 63-57. Central will take on Gallaudet University (D.C.) Dec. 20.
           
"We'll give the players a day off tomorrow and get in early on Monday, then give them a couple days off throughout the week," Weiland said. "Then, yeah, let's go have fun in Tennessee as a team and handle our business."