The Central College women’s basketball team snapped their two-game losing skid with a 69-63 upset road win over the University of Dubuque Saturday, while the men’s team had their four-game winning streak snapped with a 67-61 loss to the Spartans. Both of the Central basketball games Saturday were broadcast live on 92.1 KRLS.

The Dutch women (5-13 overall, 2-7 American Rivers) nearly had three double-doubles in securing the victory over the Spartans. Allison Van Gorp (sophomore, Pella, Pella Christian HS) was once again a force inside with 20 points and 13 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season while guard Kelsea Hurley (senior, Scottsdale, Ariz., Desert Mountain HS) posted her third with 12 points and 11 boards and guard Abby Johnson (sophomore, Ankeny) had 16 points and nine rebounds. 

Coming away empty after overtime setbacks in their last two outings, the Dutch maintained their poise Saturday. A 14-point first-half lead slowly melted away as Dubuque tied it 58-58 with 4:59 left, but Central answered with a 5-0 run and sealed the verdict when Van Gorp and guard Kassidi Steel (junior, New Sharon, North Mahaska HS) each sank a pair of free throws in the final 32 seconds. The Dutch dominated the glass in the win, outrebounding the Spartans 51-34.

Despite the loss to Dubuque, the Central men hung on to first place in a hotly contested conference race as second-place Nebraska Wesleyan also lost.

The Dutch (12-5 overall, 7-2 conference) were limited just to 37.7% shooting in the game. Avenging its 68-58 loss at Central December 3rd, Dubuque jumped out to a 17-5 lead in the game’s opening 7 minutes. The Dutch never led in the contest, trailing 36-28 at intermission. Down 39-28 early in the second half, Central drew as close as 44-40 with 14:06 left but got no closer. Joshua Van Gorp (junior, Pella, Pella Christian HS) had 19 points and eight rebounds for Central, while Kole Tupa (junior, Center Point, Center Point-Urbana HS) added 12 points on four 3-point baskets.

Central is off until next Saturday when Coe College visits for a women’s-men’s conference doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. The games can be heard live on 92.1 KRLS and viewed through the Central athletics website at athletics.central.edu.