The long awaited return of Central basketball is today, as the Dutch women hit the road to Dubuque for an American Rivers Conference tilt against the Spartans. Central enters the season on a steady rise in coach Joe Steinkamp’s fourth season at the helm. The Dutch are coming off a 15-11 season which saw the highest win total since the 1997-98 season and first conference tournament appearance since 2004-05.

The Spartans have begun their season already, and are off to a 1-3 start, with non-conference losses to league foes Loras and Wartburg.

Today’s game tips off at 2:00 p.m. inside the Stoltz Sports Center on the campus of the University of Dubuque. Only family members of the participants are permitted to attend.