The Central basketball teams played on their home court for the first time in two weeks Saturday afternoon, hosting Nebraska Wesleyan in American Rivers Conference action. The Dutch earned a split in the doubleheader, with the Central women picking up an 81-71 win and the men falling 115-69.

It was one of the most complete performances of the season for the Dutch women. Central shot 51.7 from the floor, and held the lead for the vast majority. The lead changed hands several times throughout the first quarter, but the Dutch took the lead for good with just over two minutes to go in the first. A three-point lead after one steadily increased to five by halftime. The Prairie Wolves got to within two points midway through the fourth, but a 7-1 run by the Dutch was enough to put the game away.

Central had five players score in double figures, led by Kendall Brown’s 21 points on a very efficient 10-12 from the floor. Emily Hay had a stellar performance, scoring 17 points, including five 3-pointers. Payton Rogers added 11 off the bench, and Maci Gambell and Kelsea Hurley contributed 10 apiece to round out those in double figures. The second consecutive conference win, it has given the Dutch a confidence boost after an 0-5 start to league play. Central improves to 10-6 overall and 2-5 in the conference.

It was quite the opposite scenario for the Central men. Nebraska Wesleyan entered as the 11th-ranked team in the nation, and they flexed their muscles in a dominant victory. The Dutch held a 9-7 lead four minutes in, but the Prairie Wolves used a 22-0 over the next four minutes to set the tone for the rest of the way. Nebraska Wesleyan shot the lights out of Kuyper Gymnasium, hitting 25 of their 32 shots in the first half. A 64-36 halftime lead grew to the final margin of 46 in the closing minutes, as the shorthanded Dutch seemingly had no answers. Nebraska Wesleyan finished the game shooting 71.2 percent from the field, including an astonishing 56.5 percent from deep.

Nate Schimonitz led the Prairie Wolves with 32 points, while Jack Hiller added 27. Caden Mauck led the Dutch with 15 points. Adam Flinn scored all 14 of his points in the first half, and Drake Johnson added 12. Central falls to 4-12 overall and 1-6 in the conference.

Central will conclude the first half of conference play Wednesday, when Buena Vista visits Kuyper Gymnasium for a women’s-men’s doubleheader. The women’s game starts things off at 5:30, with pregame coverage beginning at 5:15 on KRLS3.