Three players scored in double digits and the Central College women's basketball team held off Cornell College's second-half offensive attacks to capture a 68-64 win Saturday in Mount Vernon.

Scoring in spurts of six, the Dutch jumped out to a 6-0 lead nearly five minutes in while the defense instigated five Cornell turnovers.

"Our defensive pressure really bothered them," coach Jerry Nikkel said. "It was a good start getting the lead and causing turnovers."

A second run distanced the Dutch 12-2 at the 12:13 mark and Central closed the half the way it started, with a 6-0 run, taking a 31-25 advantage into the break.

Continuing its offensive streak in the second half, Central extended its lead to 11 before Cornell crept back in to tie things up at 36. In a back-and-forth battle Cornell and Central traded 6-point runs before the Dutch regained control, drawing fouls off of rebounds to get to the charity stripe.

"They (Cornell) started coming back like crazy," Nikkel said. "It was huge for us to get those rebounds and get to the free-throw line."

Central had 42 rebounds, 17 offensive, compared to 33 rebounds from Cornell (7-14, 2-12 conference). The Dutch shot 41.2 percent from the floor, including a 52.4 percent effort in the second half.

"Those are high-water marks for us," Nikkel said.

Guard Sarah Paulson led the Dutch with 17 points, shooting 50 percent from the floor and going 2-for-2 behind the arc. She also collected seven rebounds. Guard Annie Sarcone  added 11 points and forward Haley Brillhart had 10. Forward Nicole Strasko snagged a game-high eight rebounds and had nine points. Guard Alyssa Schwartz also had nine points.

"This was by far our best team effort of the year," Nikkel said. "It's a big confidence builder for us."

The win snaps an eight-game losing streak for the Dutch.

With a bye during the week, Central (5-19, 2-13 conference) tackles Buena Vista for its last regular-season game in a women's-men's doubleheader at Storm Lake Saturday. The women tipoff at 2 p.m. and the men begin at approximately 4 p.m.

"With the week off we'll have a couple days to heal and recoup," Nikkel said. "We'll be ready to go, no question."

The Beavers cruised to an 80-69 win in Pella earlier this season. Buena Vista has clinched the No. 6 seed in the Iowa Conference tournament with a 7-7 league mark and an 11-12 overall record.