Storm survive AIB to win ninth straight

INDIANOLA, Iowa - Morgan Mauro scored 15 points and hit five 3s and the Simpson women's basketball held off a feisty AIB team, 69-61 on New Year's Day.

Britney Boland had 11 points and seven rebounds and Brittany Hedrick added 11 and four assists for the Storm (10-1), who won their ninth game in a row despite committing 28 turnovers.

Gelina Webb scored 13 points and hit three 3s to lead the Eagles (5-9), who lost to Simpson for the second time this season. The Storm won 70-42 on Nov. 22.

Trailing by as much as 15 in the second half, AIB pulled within six when Jessica Davis hit a 3 to make it 51-45 with 8:05 to play. Mauro answered with back-to-back 3s, extending the lead to 57-45.

AIB got within six again with 1:52 to play, but MacKenzie Haupt extended the lead to 67-59 with a layup that all but put it away.

Mauro went 5-for-7 from beyond the arch in the game, including hitting on 3 of 4 in the second half. Haupt finished with nine points, post Annie Gullickson had six rebounds and five assists and Noreen Morrow added six points and two boards off the bench.

Up Next: Simpson takes on Coe in the Iowa Conference opener next Wednesday, Jan. 7 in Cedar Rapids. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.