News Release

PELLA, Iowa — Coe College withstood a late Central College surge for a 57-51 Iowa Conference women’s basketball victory Saturday.

The win leaves Coe at 8-8 and Central at 4-12 at the close of the league’s regular season. Both teams will advance to the conference tournament Tuesday. Coe is 11-14 overall while Central is 7-18.

Central carries the seventh seed and will travel to Indianola to take on second-seeded Simpson Tuesday at 7 p.m. Simpson, a 73-70 overtime winner over Luther Saturday, is 19-6 overall and 12-4 in the league. The Storm defeated Central 58-56 at Pella Nov. 30 and 94-43 at Indianola Feb. 2.

Coe led 31-25 at halftime Saturday and appeared in control with a 53-41 advantage with four minutes remaining. But a 3-point bucket by Katy Paxton keyed a 7-0 Central run that made it 53-48 at the two-minute mark. A pair of Rachel Lenox free throws pulled the Dutch to within 55-51 with 17 seconds left but they could come no closer.

“We just have to shoot better,” coach Mick Angel said. “I thought free throws were key. Coe made some free throws down the stretch and we didn’t.”

Central was outshot from the field, 42.6 percent to 30.4 and Coe drilled 16 of 17 free throws. Central hit 14 of 22.

Coe’s Holly Zimmerman, Melissa Hanneman and Shanon Nelson each scored 13 poinjts. Guard Morgan Martin was the only Central player in double figures, scoring 12. Lenox had six rebounds, two assists, two blocks and four steals but was limited to three points and was scoreless from the field after a 27-point outburst in Wednesday’s loss at Loras College.

Central was outrebounded, 40-30.