Beavers Defeat Central College in Women's Basketball Tournament

Buena Vista University pulls away in the fourth quarter for a 78-68 win over Central College in the American Rivers Conference tournament quarterfinal.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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After a tight game for three quarters, Buena Vista University outscored Central College 31-20 in the fourth quarter to pull away for a 78-68 victory in the American Rivers Conference women's basketball tournament quarterfinal. Central College led 48-47 entering the final frame, but lost starters Emily Naughton and Kaitlyn Mumm to foul trouble, allowing Buena Vista to take control.

Why it matters

This loss ends Central College's season, but the Dutch made the conference tournament for the second consecutive year, a feat they had not accomplished since 2021. The game highlighted the importance of depth and avoiding foul trouble in the high-stakes environment of the postseason.

The details

Maddie Backer's layup at the end of the third quarter gave Central College a one-point lead, but Buena Vista took over in the fourth. Before the seven-minute mark, Central lost starters Emily Naughton and Kaitlyn Mumm to their fourth fouls, handcuffing the Dutch defense. Buena Vista capitalized, scoring 31 points in the final period to pull away. Backer and Jasmyn Williams led Central with 12 points each, while CeCe Moore had 11 rebounds and McKenzie Snook recorded three steals.

  • The game was the quarterfinal of the American Rivers Conference women's basketball tournament, played on February 25, 2026.
  • Central College finished the regular season with a 12-14 record, but made the conference tournament for the second consecutive year, a feat they had not accomplished since 2021.

The players

Buena Vista University

The women's basketball team from Buena Vista University that defeated Central College in the tournament quarterfinal.

Central College

The women's basketball team from Central College that lost to Buena Vista University in the tournament quarterfinal.

Maddie Backer

A player for Central College who scored 12 points in the game.

Jasmyn Williams

A player for Central College who also scored 12 points in the game.

CeCe Moore

A player for Central College who had 11 rebounds in the game.

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The takeaway

This game highlighted the challenges of maintaining composure and avoiding foul trouble in the high-pressure environment of the postseason tournament. Central College's return to the conference tournament for a second straight year is a positive sign for the program, but they will need to address depth and discipline issues to make a deeper run in the future.