The only time Nebraska Wesleyan University held the lead Wednesday was the only time it mattered as the Central College women’s basketball team was clipped in the closing seconds 66-65.
Nebraska Wesleyan used a pair of free throws with 4 seconds left to take its first lead. Coach Moran Lonning drew up a potential game-winning play but all-conference center Allison Van Gorp (sophomore, Pella, Pella Christian HS), in just her second game of the year after coming back from injury, couldn’t connect at the buzzer after securing the ball deep in the post.
The Dutch (3-5 overall, 0-1 American Rivers) led by as many as 15 points in the third quarter after holding a 34-29 halftime advantage. But Nebraska Wesleyan (5-2 overall, 1-0 conference) committed just eight turnovers and used 22 offensive rebounds to stay within striking distance, outscoring Central 25-16 in the fourth period. The Dutch used a 5-point run for a 65-60 lead with 1:25 left but were scoreless the rest of the way.
The result overshadowed a breakout scoring night from sophomore point guard Hannah Dau (sophomore, Paullina, South O’Brien HS), who knocked down four 3-point buckets and poured in a career-high 20 points to go with three assists and three steals. Guard Kelsea Hurley (senior, Scottsdale, Ariz., Desert Mountain HS) added 14 points while Van Gorp had 11 and they shared rebounding honors with eight each. Point guard Jasmyn Williams (freshman, Denver, Colo., Arvada West HS) came off the bench to pass out four assists.
It required surviving a few white-knuckle moments, but the Central College men’s basketball team stole away with its first win over Nebraska Wesleyan University since 2017 Wednesday night 73-67.
Center Joshua Van Gorp (junior, Pella, Pella Christian HS) had 24 points on 12-of-15 shooting and the Dutch (5-3 overall, 1-0 American Rivers) snapped a nine-game losing streak in the series. It was Central’s first regular-season victory at Lincoln since 1989, long before Nebraska Wesleyan joined the American Rivers in 2014. Up 33-31 at halftime, Central used a 13-point run to build a 59-42 lead midway through the second half.
The Dutch were still in command 62-48 with just 4 minutes left. But then the Prairie Wolves (2-4 overall, 0-1 conference) staged a frantic rally, with seemingly every bounce and deflection suddenly going their way. After seeing the lead melt to as few as four, Central finally cracked the Prairie Wolves’ pressure and guard Kaleb Brand (junior, Mount Vernon) slammed home a breakaway dunk to seal it with 15 seconds left. The collective exhalation from Central fans could be heard whistling across the Nebraska plains.
The Dutch blocked 12 shots, including five from 6-foot-10 stat-stuffer Grant Johnson (senior, Waukee, Van Meter HS), who also had a team-high seven assists and six rebounds. Van Gorp had three blocks. Central outshot Nebraska Wesleyan 59.2% to 36.5% and held a commanding 42-23 rebounding advantage.
Central makes its home conference season debut Saturday in a women’s-men’s doubleheader with the University of Dubuque. The women’s game will kick off the doubleheader at 2 p.m. with the men’s game to follow, and both games can be heard live on 92.1 KRLS and viewed on the Central athletics website at athletics.central.edu.