Storm thwart comeback, beat Coe

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Brittany Hedrick made two clutch free throws with 4 seconds left and the Simpson women's basketball team held off a furious comeback by Coe in a 73-69 win on Saturday afternoon.

Morgan Terpstra had a career day with 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Storm (6-7, 1-1 Iowa Conference), who led by as many as 20 in the second half.

Mary Halvorson scored 11 points during a 21-7 run that helped the Kohawks (6-7, 1-1) pull within four at 63-59 with 4:55 left. 

Hedrick struggled from the line down the stretch, but made the ones she needed most. She missed three free throws in a row before connecting to give Simpson a 71-67 lead with 22 seconds left.

Coe answered with a pair of Mackenzie Reed free throws to make it 71-69 with 6 seconds to go, but Hedrick put it away with a perfect trip to the line.

Halvorson finished with 19 points and seven rebounds and Mickey Hansche had 20 points for Coe.

Terpstra - starting in place of the injured Brooke Panzer - scored 17 points in the first half. She finished going 7 of 11 from the field and 8 of 11 from the free throw line. Hedrick scored 15 and Whitney Van Wyk had six points, six rebounds and four assists.

Simpson built its lead midway through the first half with a 12-0 run that resulted in a 25-10 lead.

The Storm will try to make it two wins in a row when they host Buena Vista on Wednesday, Jan. 15. The Beavers (6-7, 0-2) lost to Loras 83-79 on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.