Niemuth wins 500th game, Storm top Loras

DUBUQUE, Iowa – Kate Nielsen scored 21 points, head coach Brian Niemuth earned career win No. 500 and the Simpson women's basketball team beat Loras 75-62 on Saturday afternoon.

Brooke Panzer added 14 points and Kelsie Reeves had 12 and six assists for the seventh-ranked Storm (22-1, 12-0 Iowa Conference), who extended their winning streak to 13 games.

In his 26th season coaching the Storm, Niemuth improved his career record to 500-194. He becomes only the 20th coach in NCAA Division III history and third in 2012-13 to reach the milestone.

Katie Langmeier came off the bench to score 14 points and Melissa Hermann had 11 for the Duhawks (16-7, 6-6), who lost their fourth in a row.

Simpson led from the 14:24 mark in the first half on, but Loras hung around for most of the second half. A Langmeier layup made the score 57-52 with 9:37 left in the game before Reeves completed a three-point play, sparking a 10-2 run.

After Loras cut the lead to 68-60 with 3:03 left, Whitney Van Wyk and Reeves answered with back-to-back treys to provide the final dagger.

The Storm host their final home game of the season Wednesday, Feb. 13 when Dubuque travels to Cowles Fieldhouse on Senior Recognition Night. The Spartans (16-7, 6-6) beat Central 66-44 on Saturday.