Mid-game run propels Loras past Storm

INDIANOLA, Iowa — Maddie Simmons scored a career-high 17 points but a lull that stretched from the second quarter into the third cost the Simpson women's basketball team in an 80-63 loss to Loras on Wednesday at Cowles Fieldhouse.

The Duhawks (12-7, 6-4 Iowa Conference) opened up a 19-point lead midway through the third quarter thanks to a 21-4 run and never looked back, winning their sixth straight. The run started when Lauren Stanich hit two 3-pointers in an 8-0 run to close the first half, giving Loras a 41-31 lead at the break.

Simmons set her career-high for the second time in three games to lead the Storm (7-12, 4-6). She went 7-for-9 from the field and made a pair of 3s, topping her previous career-high of 14 set Jan. 21 at Coe. Britney Boland scored 10 points, Katie Ahrenholtz added 11 and Ellen Gallagher chipped in with 10. Noreen Morrow finished with nine points and eight rebounds.

Turnovers hurt Simpson. Although the Storm shot 50-percent from the field and made 10 3-pointers, 23 turnovers turned into 23 points for Loras. Simpson managed just 13 points off 14 Loras turnovers.

Terese McMahon scored 22 points to lead Loras. Cyerra Hutchins had 13 and Stanich added 11. 

UP NEXT
Simpson goes to Wartburg on Saturday, Jan. 28. The conference-leading Knights (17-2, 9-1) beat Coe 83-51 on Wednesday.