Simpson holds off Kenyon for 60-58 win

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Kate Nielsen posted her second straight double-double and the No. 13 Simpson women's basketball team held off a second-half comeback by Kenyon in a 60-58 win Saturday night.

A day after posting career-highs with 35 points and 15 rebounds in a two-point loss to No. 7 Amherst, Nielsen went for 17 points and 16 rebounds against Kenyon. She posted 13 points and 10 rebounds in the first half as Simpson built a 15-point lead.

Kelsie Reeves and Nicole Crisp added 10 points apiece for the Storm (10-1). Reeves dished out a season-high six assists.

Simpson won its 10th game of the season despite a lackluster shooting performance from beyond the arch. Simpson went 0-for-11 in the first half and 2-for-20 on the night, but outscored Kenyon 36-18 in the paint.

Simpson got off to a quick start, mounting a 10-0 run in the opening minutes. After a jumper by Kayla Ernst cut the lead to 18-13 at the 10:11 mark, Simpson closed the half on a 14-4 run which began on a pair of Annie Gullickson free throws.

After a layup by Morgan Terpstra gave Simpson a 55-45 lead with 4:21 left in the second half, a jumper by Katie Adlam started a 13-5 run by Kenyon to close the game. Simpson led by four with 1 minute left but Chelsie Rohrs made a free throw and Maureen Hirt missed a potential game-winning 3 as time expired.

Ernst scored 19 points and Lauren Kriete pulled down 10 rebounds to lead the Ladies (8-2).

Originally scheduled begin at Noon EST, the start time was pushed back to 10 p.m. due to Kenyon's travel complications.

Simpson begins the Iowa Conference schedule on Jan. 5 when it travels to Storm Lake, Iowa to take on Buena Vista. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.