The Central College women’s basketball team saw several leads disappear Saturday as Cornell College dealt the Dutch a 77-72 overtime setback in Mount Vernon. 

The Dutch held a five-point advantage with just under five minutes left in the second half when Cornell made a 15-5 run to take its own five-point lead, 61-56. Central battled back and with seven seconds remaining, guard Sarah Paulson made two free throws to send the game into overtime. 

In the extra frame, the Rams took a two-point lead with 23 seconds left to play, then closed out the game at the free throw line.  Paulson scored a game-high and career-best 26 points to lead Central, while also collecting 10 rebounds. 

The loss was Central’s second overtime defeat in two weeks, and drops the Dutch to 3-3 overall and 0-2 in the Iowa Conference.  They’ll remain in league play on Wednesday night when Central hosts Coe College.