News Release

PELLA, Iowa — Forward Erin Benson racked up a career-high 23 points and 11 rebounds as the Central College women’s basketball team stormed back from a 17-point first-half deficit to topple the University of Dubuque Saturday 83-75.

Central (6-17 overall, 4-10 Iowa Conference) initially showed the effects of a draining 76-74 defeat against Wartburg Friday night while Dubuque (9-14 overall, 3-11 conference) came out firing. The Spartans hit 63 percent of their shots in the first 13 minutes, racing to a 39-22 lead with 7:20 left in the first half.

But then the Dutch turned on the intensity, staging a dominant 35-7 turnaround behind the shooting of Benson and forward Emily De Jong. De Jong knocked down 5-of-7 3-point baskets and finished with 19 points and nine rebounds. Central climbed to within 44-39 at halftime before bursting ahead 57-46 with just under 15 minutes left.

“We came out a bit flat,” coach Natalie Nakic said. “Their starters didn’t have to play as many minutes as ours the night before, and they hit a few shots early. But all of a sudden we came back. When push comes to shove, this team is a fighting team. And it started with our defense. We got a few steals and pushed in transition.”

Dubuque got as close as 65-64 with 7:46 left but six straight points from Benson helped the Dutch regain control.

Benson’s previous scoring best was a 15-point effort at Loras Jan. 6 and Saturday’s performance was her first career double-double, reaching double figures in rebounds for just the second time. She also passed out four assists and made two steals.

“Erin attacked the basket well for us and got a few of their players in foul trouble,” Nakic said.

Nakic also welcomed De Jong’s production.

“The last two games Emily has definitely stepped up,” she said. “Her 3’s in the first half kept us in it.”

Guard Laura Porter had 13 points and five assists for the Dutch and Nakic also cited the effort off the bench from guard Mary Swanson.
“Mary hit a big 3 for us as well,” Nakic said.

The Dutch close out the regular season on the road next week. They journey to Decorah Wednesday to battle first-place Luther College in a women’s-men’s doubleheader starting at 6 p.m., then travel to Cedar Rapids to meet Coe College next Saturday. Luther is 17-4 overall and 12-1 in the league heading into Saturday’s game with Buena Vista.