Simpson (12-3 overall, 4-2 conference) trailed 39-38 after a see-saw first half that including four ties and six lead changes. A Laura Porter 3-pointer 2:37 into the second half gave the Dutch (4-11 overall, 2-4 conference) a lead they would hold until a jumper by Simpson’s Carlie Beals with 7:07 remaining made it 57-56. Beals led all scorers with 25 points, including six-of-13 shooting from beyond the arc. Simpson extended its lead to six with just over 1 minute remaining before converting seven of the next eight free throws to secure the win.
Porter led the Dutch with 16 points off seven-of-15 shooting and collected five rebounds. Central placed three other players in double figures including guard Amber Smith with 13 points and four rebounds, as well as guard Morgan Martin with 11 and forward Emily De Jong with 10. Center Sara Iverson grabbed a career-high nine rebounds.
The Dutch shot 35.4 percent from the floor and 29.6 percent from long range. Simpson converted 45.9 percent of its attempts and shot 28.6 from 3-point range, while outrebounding Central 47-40.
Central is home again Wednesday, meeting first-place Luther College in a women’s-men’s doubleheader starting at 6 p.m. at P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium. Central’s most recent win over the Norse was in 2002. Luther carries a 5-1 conference mark into Wednesday’s contest.
Simpson College vs Central College 1/13/07 4:00 PM at Kuyper Gym, Pella, Iowa At Kuyper Gym, Pella, Iowa SIMPSON COLLEGE 78, CENTRAL COLLEGE 69 SIMPSON COLLEGE (12-3, 4-2 conf.) BEALS, Carlie 9-17 1-2 25; KATCH, Ashley 7-9 3-5 17; WHITON, Katelyn 6-13 2-2 14; FRANKER, Whitney 4-9 2-3 10; MONTAGUE, Laura 1-4 4-4 6; SMITH, Emily 0-1 2-4 2; LARSON, Carrie 0-2 2-2 2; VAN OOSBREE, Tessa 1-6 0-0 2; KUBERSKI, Jemi 0-0 0-0 0; FISCHBACH, Jayna 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-61 16-22 78. CENTRAL COLLEGE (4-11, 2-4 conf.) PORTER, Laura 7-15 0-0 16; SMITH, Amber 5-9 2-2 13; MARTIN, Morgan 4-9 2-2 11; DE JONG, Emily 4-11 1-2 10; WEILAND, Jennifer 2-5 0-0 5; IVERSON, Sara 2-6 0-0 4; CONWAY, Emily 1-5 0-0 3; SCHMIDT, Aimee 1-4 0-0 3; SWANSON, Mary 1-1 0-0 2; BENSON, Erin 1-10 0-0 2; PAXTON, Katy 0-3 0-0 0; KLETT, Allison 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 28-79 5-6 69. Simpson College............... 38 40 - 78 Central College............... 39 30 - 69 3-point goals-Simpson College 6-21 (BEALS, Carlie 6-13; FRANKER, Whitney 0-2; MONTAGUE, Laura 0-2; VAN OOSBREE, Tessa 0-4), Central College 8-27 (PORTER, Laura 2-4; MARTIN, Morgan 1-3; SCHMIDT, Aimee 1-4; SMITH, Amber 1-1; WEILAND, Jennifer 1-2; DE JONG, Emily 1-7; CONWAY, Emily 1-5; PAXTON, Katy 0-1). Fouled out--Simpson College-None, Central College-None. Rebounds-Simpson College 47 (WHITON, Katelyn 10), Central College 40 (IVERSON, Sara 9). Assists-Simpson College 13 (WHITON, Katelyn 4), Central College 15 (PORTER, Laura 4). Total fouls-Simpson College 8, Central College 16. A-300