Haupt scores 17 as Storm women pull away from Central

INDIANOLA, Iowa - Mackenzie Haupt had 17 points, Katie Ahrenholtz chipped in with 14 off the bench, and the Simpson women's basketball team pulled away for a 67-52 win over Central to extend its impressive winning streak in the series.

Haupt knocked down three 3-pointers and Ahrenholtz was an efficient 5-for-7 from the field as the Storm (13-8, 6-4 Iowa Conference) won their 30th straight against Central. 

Simpson held a seven-point lead after the third quarter and pulled away with an 11-0 run to start the fourth. Haupt nailed a 3 from the right wing to close the charge, giving the Storm a comfortable 62-44 lead with 6:39 left. 

Claire Marburger finished with 16 points and eight rebounds and Emily Dine scored all 15 of her points in the first half, going 5-for-10 from beyond the arc for the game. After shooting 50 percent in the first half, the Dutch (4-17, 1-9) went just 6-for-27 in the second, losing their seventh straight.

Central came out hot, shooting 50 percent from the field in the first half. Dine led the charge, going 4-for-5 from 3-point range in the first quarter as the Dutch led 19-15.

Simpson trailed for most of the second quarter before piecing together a 13-6 run to close the half. Haupt beat the buzzer with a 3 from left corner to give the Storm a 41-37 lead into the locker room.

The Dutch went just 6-for-27 from the field in the second half. Their last win against Simpson came on Feb. 2, 2002.

Maddie Bosworth had 10 points, three assists and five rebounds and Britney Boland finished with six points and 10 boards for the Storm.

Up next: Simpson goes to league-leading Luther on Wednesday, Feb. 10. The Norse (16-5, 8-2) suffered an 81-71 setback at Buena Vista on Saturday.