The shot capped a game of wild momentum swings that saw Dubuque (8-4 overall, 2-1 Iowa Conference) jump to a 9-0 lead, Central scrap its way back to a 38-28 halftime advantage that it stretched to 43-28 early in the second half, Dubuque surge back in front 67-60 with 6:51 left, and Central (4-10 overall, 2-3 conference) climb back in front in the closing minutes. The lead changed hands five times in the final 3:19.
Central’s last advantage came on a pair of Morgan Martin free throws with 1:15 left that made it 77-76. The Dutch had the ball and the lead with less than 40 seconds remaining, but a turnover and two Dubuque offensive rebounds led to Speer’s decisive bucket.
Martin continued her recent resurgence, following up her career-high 28-point effort in a win over Buena Vista Wednesday with 19 points Friday, her second-highest output, along with five rebounds. Guard Laura Porter had 15 points on seven-of-10 shooting with seven rebounds. Central shot 47.4 percent from the floor to Dubuque’s 47.0 percent but was outrebounded 37-32. The Spartans got a game-high 28 points from Jen Nichols, who drilled six of nine 3-pointers.
Central makes a quick turnaround by returning home to take on Simpson College in a women’s-men’s doubleheader Saturday, with the men’s game tipping off around 6 p.m. at P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium. Simpson, ranked 15th in the WBCA Division III poll, was stunned at Luther College Friday 66-42 and is 11-3 overall with a 3-2 conference mark. Simpson has won its last nine games against the Dutch, with Central last prevailing Feb. 2, 2002 at Indianola.
Saturday’s game will be broadcast on KRLS-FM (92.1) with Jamie Brockman. The broadcast can be accessed at www.kniakrls.com.