Kori Zarzutzki has been named head women's basketball coach at Central Christian College of the Bible, Director of Athletics Jack Defreitas announced Friday.

Zarzutzki, a former student-athlete and coach at fellow Midwest Christian College Conference member Manhattan Christian College, comes to Central Christian after one season as the head coach at Oak Hills Christian College in Bemidji, Minn.

"We are thrilled to have Kori joining our team and to have her leading our women's basketball program," Defreitas said. "She not only understands the value of being a student-athlete in the MCCC and the NCCAA, she knows what success looks like at this level. Kori is an outstanding fit for our institution and athletics program."

Zarzutzki was tasked with starting the Oak Hills Christian women's basketball program from scratch in June of 2020 with no players on the roster. She was able to assemble a team in a two-month period while battling COVID-19 restrictions, and the Wolfpack went on to win six games during the 2020-21 season.

A native of Venice, Fla., Zarzutzki started her collegiate basketball playing career at Tennessee Wesleyan University in Athens, Tenn., before transferring to Manhattan Christian College in Manhattan, Kan., to play her final three seasons. As a player at Manhattan, she was a part of two national tournaments, with MCC advancing to the NCCAA DII national championship game in 2013. Additionally, she was a two-time NCCAA DII Scholar Athlete.

Following graduation, Zarzutzki joined the MCC staff as an assistant coach in 2016, helping the Thunder to another national tournament appearance in 2018. After two years as an assistant coach in Manhattan, she served in the same role at Grinnell College, an NCAA Division III program in Grinnell, Iowa, for two seasons.

"I am so thankful for the opportunity that CCCB has given me to be a part of their family," Zarzutzki said. "I am thrilled to lead the women's basketball program — to get to know the current players and to build moving forward. There is a lot to be excited about, and I cannot wait to see where we can take this program!"

Zarzutzki graduated with dual degrees from Manhattan Christian College and Kansas State University in 2016. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Bible & Leadership from Manhattan Christian and a Bachelor of Science in Family Studies & Human Services. She earned a Master of Business Administration from Southeastern University (Fla.) in 2018.

The Central Christian women's basketball team came out fast and furious, but it didn't last as Lincoln Christian University rallied for a 53-45 win over the Saints on Tuesday inside the Ferneau Center.

Central Christian (5-8) jumped out to a 13-point lead in the opening quarter, but with a minute left in the period the Red Lions started to gain momentum. The guests narrowed the gap to 19-9 before the buzzer, then limited the Saints to five second-quarter points as LCU took a 25-24 lead into the locker room.

CCCB kept it close throughout the third quarter, then started the final period facing a 40-36 deficit. That was as close as the Saints would get, however, as they shot just 1-for-7 from 3-point range and 35 percent from the field in the second half.

Lauren Mills led Central Christian with 15 points. Alexis Whisenand grabbed 12 rebounds and Kayla Koester pulled down 11.

Lincoln Christian was led by 17 points and 11 rebounds from Jordan Price.

Outside of the first quarter where the Saints shot 53 percent, neither team put together a strong offensive offensive showing. LCU shot just 28 percent from the field and 21 percent from 3-point range, while CCCB finished at 35 percent overall and 20 percent from behind the arc.

The Saints were crippled by a season-high 29 turnovers.

Up next for CCCB are a pair of Midwest Christian College Conference games at home over the weekend. On Friday night they host No. 7 Barclay College at 7 p.m., then face Manhattan Christian College on Saturday at 2 p.m.

The Central Christian women's basketball team got off to a slow start, made a comeback, then had their fourth quarter rally fall short in a 73-57 loss to Ozark Christian College on Saturday in Midwest Christian College Conference play at the Ferneau Center.

Central Christian (3-6, 1-2 MCCC) trailed for most of the game, but kept it close until Ozark Christian (4-3, 1-1) pulled away late. The Saints narrowed the gap to 58-54 with 7:09 remaining before the Ambassadors closed out on a 15-3 run.

CCCB shot just 26 percent from the field and 13 percent from 3-point range in the first half as they found themselves facing a 39-29 halftime deficit. A 20-15 surge in the third quarter made it a five-point game heading into the final frame.

Lauren Mills led the Saints with 17 points and Taegan Bartolacci added 14. Alexis Whisenand grabbed a team-high eight rebounds, while Mills, Bartolacci, Kimberlee Fowler, and Kayla Koester all pulled down six each.

The Saints had trouble containing OCC's Kamryn Gentry, who had game highs of 21 points and 17 rebounds. Courtnie West scored15 points and Maddison Schaper had 13 for the Ambassadors.

The CCCB women are now off until Jan. 4 when they are scheduled to host Oak Hills Christian College at 7 p.m.

Led by Taegan Bartolacci's double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds, the Central Christian College of the Bible women's basketball team downed Calvary University, 77-65, on Thursday in the Ferneau Center.

The Saints (2-5) led from nearly start to finish with the exception of a brief one-point advantage by the Warriors early in the third quarter. Central Christian ended the first quarter with a 19-11 advantage, then led 36-32 at halftime.

After the visitors took a one-point lead, a large offensive surge in the third quarter gave the hosts a 59-50 lead heading into the final frame. They extended their lead by as many as 12 in the fourth quarter before coasting to the final margin.

Central Christian's Kimberlee Fowler was an assist shy of a double-double, finishing with nine to go along with her 15 points. Katelynn Wampler added 12 points, all 3-pointers, and Lauren Mills had 11 points.

Calvary was led by Taylor Hunter with 20 points and Avery Kornstad with 15 points.

The Saints are off until Dec. 7 when they host Faith Baptist Bible College in a Midwest Christian College Conference matchup.