Andrea Clark shot Feb. 20, 2008

Clark hits 27 but Dutch fall

PELLA—Freshman center Andrea Clark (Guthrie Center) pumped in a career-best 27 points but a big second half carried Buena Vista past the Central College women’s basketball team 100-75 Wednesday.

Clark recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 27 points and 11 rebounds. She also blocked two shots.

But after a frantic first half in which Central (4-20 overall, 2-13 Iowa Conference) kept pace with the Beavers, the Dutch cooled off.  Down 45-43 at intermission, Central shot just 28.7 percent in the second half after hitting 47.1 percent in the opening period. Buena Vista shot a steamy 62.2 percent in the second half, using an early 14-2 burst to build a 62-52 advantage with 13:24 left and eventually stretched the margin to 26.

Buena Vista (13-11 overall, 7-8 conference) got big nights from guards Margo Muhlbauer and Courtney Stoelk, who produced 26 and 24 points, respectively. The Beavers outrebounded Central 51-30.

Clark’s Guthrie Center High School teammate, guard Jordan Waddell (freshman, Guthrie Center) added 16 points for the Dutch.

A pair of Central seniors made their final collegiate appearance at P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium. Guard Mary Swanson (Jefferson, Jefferson-Scranton HS) had nine points and Erin Benson (Omaha, Neb., Northwest HS) added seven.

The Dutch close out the season with a league doubleheader with Luther College at Decorah Saturday. Game time is 2 p.m. Luther, 14-9 overall, is 11-4 in the conference after hammering Wartburg Wednesday 53-33. Central surprised the Norse at Pella Jan. 9, 67-63.