It was another spirited comeback for the Central College women's basketball team and another crushing defeat Wednesday.
           
Nebraska Wesleyan's Klaire Phillips hit a baseline layup with 5 seconds left to hold off the Dutch, 63-61. It was a second-straight home-court disappointment for Central, which dropped a 76-71 overtime decision to Coe College last Wednesday.
           
Central (6-14 overall, 2-9 American Rivers Conference) trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half before climbing to within 27-24 at halftime and 43-42 after three quarters. The Dutch held brief leads, including a 48-47 advantage with 7:44 left on a 3-point basket by guard Kristin Hubert (senior, Hornick, Woodbury Central HS). Hubert finished with a game-high 19 points.
           
Nebraska Wesleyan (9-10 overall, 4-6 conference) surged to a 61-56 lead with 1:58 left, but Central scored five straight, tying it on a 3-pointer by guard Emily Hay (sophomore, Stanwood, North Cedar HS) with 41 seconds left. Central made a big defensive stop and center Kendall Brown (junior, Moravia) snagged the rebound with 13 seconds left. That gave the Dutch a chance for the win but they turned the ball over, giving Phillips her opportunity. Central raced down the floor in the final seconds but failed to get off a shot.
           
"We closed well, but we just got too far behind," coach Joe Steinkamp said.
           
"In the second half, we figured out their press for the most part. The last three quarters, I like how we played. We moved the ball and made some clutch shots down the stretch. We gave ourselves a chance."
           
Steinkamp said Hubert stood out.
           
"She got off to a slow start but I was really proud of her because she didn't let that affect her for the rest of the game," he said. "We told her to keep shooting and she really kind of carried us in the second half. She made some big shots."
           
Hay and guard Jenna Clark (freshman, Story City, Roland-Story HS) each had nine points for Central.
           
"I was really pleased with Emily Hay," Steinkamp said. "She started her first college game. We wanted to match her up with (Caitlin) Navratil, who is the league's leading scorer. She did a good job against her in our first game and she held her own again tonight. It was a good game for her."
           
Navratil, who is averaging 20.9 points, finished with 12.
           
Brown had eight points, 13 rebounds and one block as the Dutch outrebounded Nebraska Wesleyan, 47-40.
           
"We were plus-seven on the boards which is good, but we don't convert enough second-chance points," Steinkamp said.
           
The setback dampens Central's fading hopes of landing a berth in the six-team conference tournament. The Dutch now trail sixth-place Nebraska Wesleyan by three games in the league standings.
           
Central faces a pair of long road trips, traveling to the University of Dubuque Saturday and Buena Vista University next Wednesday for women's-men's league doubleheaders. Saturday's women's game starts at 2 p.m. The Dutch topped Dubuque 72-66 at Pella Jan. 2. The Spartans (3-18 overall, 1-11 conference) were 104-48 losers to Loras College Wednesday afternoon.
           
"We just need to focus on getting better and becoming a more skilled team," Steinkamp said. "We need to continue to defend and rebound and see what happens."
           
A broadcast of Saturday's games can be heard with Cory Houser via KRLS-FM (92.1) and www.kniakrls.com.