The fourth quarter has not been kind to the Central College women's basketball team in recent outings but the Dutch withstood a late University of Dubuque challenge for a 66-59 road victory Saturday.
           
Forward Kendall Brown (junior, Moravia) swatted away another five shots, giving her 62 blocks in 21 games, breaking the school season mark of 61 set by all-American Tracy Wilson in a 29-game NCAA Division III championship campaign in 1992-93. Brown also had her fourth double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
           
"Kendall is a really good help defender," coach Joe Steinkamp said. "She has a really good knack for helping early to get in position. We let her go one-on-one in defending the post a lot and she also gets a lot of blocks that way. She kind of has a unique skill set with her timing and length."
           
Up 30-28 at intermission and 51-45 after three periods, Central (7-14 overall, 3-9 American Rivers) led by as many as eight points in the second half, but Dubuque (3-19 overall, 1-12 conference) closed to within two late in the fourth quarter. But Central, which had opportunities for final-possession wins in losses to Coe Jan. 23 and Nebraska Wesleyan Wednesday, responded.
           
"We were the ones making clutch plays," Steinkamp said. "It seemed like every time the game got tight, someone made a play."
           
Steinkamp cited Brown's buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter, her first 3-point bucket of the year, as well as an end-of-possession basket by forward Sami Craig (sophomore, Altoona, Southeast Polk HS) and a pivotal three by guard Jenna Clark (freshman, Story City, Roland-Story HS).
           
"All night we just attacked the rim," Steinkamp said. "It felt like we controlled the paint. (Guard) Kristin Hubert (senior, Hornick, Woodbury Central HS) shot 10 free throws and most were after getting fouled on drives. And they had to send a lot of people on Kendall (Brown) and that really opened it up for other players."
           
Clark had 11 points, six rebounds and three steals while Hubert had 10 points. Craig had nine points and four assists.
           
Steinkamp also cited forward Payton Rogers (sophomore, Moravia) who had seven points, five rebounds and three blocks in just 13 minutes.
           
"Payton had a big game off the bench," he said. "She plays in short stints but she plays with a lot of energy and at a really high level. She runs the floor so hard, she gets some easy baskets on the break."
           
Central held the edge over Dubuque in shooting, 35.2 percent to 31.2, and in rebounds, 49-45.
           
It was Central's first league road win in 18 games and marks the first time since 2013-14 that the Dutch have notched three conference victories.
           
"I'm just happy for the team more than anything," Steinkamp said. "We've been in a bunch of close games. Not only was this a win but it was a win under pressure. I'm proud of how they stepped up."
           
​​​​​​​Central is on the road again Wednesday, journeying to Storm Lake to meet Buena Vista University in a women's-men's league doubleheader starting at 6 p.m. Buena Vista is 5-17 overall and 0-13 in the league after falling 71-68 at Nebraska Wesleyan University Saturday. Central toppled the Beavers 47-45 at Pella Jan. 9.