Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Former Fort Dodge standout Lainey Maehl drives to the basket for Iowa Central on Wednesday. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Sabah Dickerson is ready to put the Iowa Central baby blue uniforms back in the closet.

The Triton women struggled with shot selection on Wednesday, but Dickerson is being patient. The ICCC head coach knows it will still take some time to get on the same page.

The Tritons remained perfect on the season after pulling away for a scrappy 71-51 victory over Central-Columbus inside Hodges Fieldhouse.

“We aren’t going to use those baby blue uniforms anymore,” Dickerson said. “It seems like every time we wear those, we don’t shoot very well.”

The Tritons (4-0 overall) fought off the Raiders (1-4). A strong defensive showing in the third quarter, where the Tritons only allowed four points, was key.

Iowa Central made only 26 of 66 shots from the floor, but the Tritons made up for it at the line (14-for-18) and on the boards (50-34 edge).

“We need to take better quality shots,” Dickerson said. “We are still developing that chemistry. Our biggest thing was that we limited their second-chance points.”

Iowa Central turned Raider mistakes into opportunities. The Tritons scored 16 points off turnovers, also tallying 12 second-chance points and 20 in the paint.

Three Tritons reached double figures, led by Olivia Miller’s 16 points. She hit two triples and was 4-for-5 from the line.

Miller recorded five rebounds and four assists as well.

Fort Dodge Senior High graduate Lainey Maehl had 11 points and pulled down eight rebounds.

Ashlin Jacobsen came off the bench to contribute 12 points.

Syliva Valentino paced the Raiders with 16 points and Tylisha McCauley added 10.

The Tritons are back in action on Sunday when they head to Lincoln, Neb. to face Southeast Community College. Tip is set for noon.

IOWA CENTRAL 71, CENTRAL-COLUMBUS 51

Iowa Central — Olivia Miller 5-12 4-5 16, Ashlin Jacobsen 4-12 2-2 12, Lainey Maehl 5-11 1-1 11, Catherine Clemente 2-9 3-4 8, Kiara Baptiste 2-5 2-2 6, Kayla Johns-McGarity 2-5 2-5 6, Leela Jones 2-2 0-0 4, Hannah Bogdonovich 2-3 0-0 4, Madisen Fay 1-2 0-0 2, Ruby Stuckemeyer 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 26-66 14-18 71.

Central Columbus — Sylvia Valentino 5-10 4-4 16, Tylisha McCauley 3-13 3-4 10, Ajae McKimmey 4-9 1-4 9, Delaney Reeg 2-9 3-4 8, Kinsey Buechle 3-5 0-4 6, Lexi Fiscus 1-7 0-0 2, Rebecca Stoddard 0-2 0-0 0, Janie Munter 0-1 0-0 0, Crystal Afemata-Marasco 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 18-58 11-20 51.

Quarter scores: Iowa Central led 24-18, 36-29, 50-33. Three-point goals: Iowa Central 5-26 (Clemente 1-6, Miller 2-8, Jacobsen 2-5); Central-Columbus 4-20 (McCauley 1-4, Reeg 1-2, Valentino 2-5); Rebounds: Iowa Central 50, Central-Columbus 34; Turnovers: Iowa Central 21, Central-Columbus 22; Total fouls: Iowa Central 19, Central Columbus 19.