The Iowa Conference schedule continues this evening for the Central College women’s and men’s basketball teams, as the Dutch are back in Kuyper Gymnasium to host Coe College. Women’s head coach Mike Jacobsma says his team’s game plan focuses on challenging the Kohawks’ potent outside shooters.

“They [Coe] have some kids that can knock down the three [pointer], and one of them can shoot at the NBA range; so we have to find her early,” says Jacobsma.

“We want to limit the point guard’s opportunity to get up the floor and take seconds off the shot clock. A thirty-second shot clock goes fast, so if you only have to defend it for twenty [seconds] instead of thirty, it makes a huge difference.”

The Coe women are 5-2 overall and 2-0 in the Iowa Conference, while the Central women are 3-3 overall and 0-2 after a pair of narrow defeats in league play.

In the men’s contest, Central head coach Mike Boschee says similar styles of play could lead to a close ball game tonight.

“I feel like it’s going to be a game where whichever team can knock down shots from the perimeter and take care of the basketball is probably going to be the team that wins the game,” says Boschee.

“I do feel like we kind of mirror each other a little bit, so sometimes when you get those open shots – one team makes them and the other team doesn’t – and it might be as simple as that.”

The Dutch are off to a solid 5-1 overall record, including two conference wins. The Kohawks are an even 3-3 overall and 1-1 against league opponents.

Coverage of the women’s game will begin on kniakrls.com, and be joined in progress on 92.1 fm KRLS, following the Marion County PM Sports Page. Tip-off from Kuyper Gym in Pella is set for 6:00 p.m. tonight.