Storm fall to Luther in regular season final

INDIANOLA, Iowa — Noreen Morrow scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds but the Simpson women's basketball team couldn't hold off Luther on Wednesday, falling 68-61 in the final game of the regular season.

Simpson led for more than 30 minutes but Luther outscored Simpson 22-11 in the fourth quarter, officially eliminating the Storm from Iowa Conference Tournament contention. In a number of tiebreaker scenarios, Simpson is left on the outside looking in.

Katie Waller scored 11 of her 15 points in the second half for the Norse (15-9, 11-4), who trailed by 10 in the first quarter. Sarah Holtz came off the bench to record an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double.

Morrow's layup gave Simpson a 52-46 lead on the first possession of the fourth quarter, but the Storm (9-16, 6-10) went without a field goal for the next 5 minutes. Luther went on an 11-3 run during the stretch, going ahead for good when Sarah Holtz hit the second of two free throws to make it 55-54 with 6:18 left. 

Maddie Simmons had a chance to tie the game with a conventional three-point play at the 4:39 mark but missed the free throw attempt, leaving Luther with a 57-56 lead. Waller hit back-to-back jumpers and made three free throws down the stretch as the Norse outscored Simpson 11-5 in the final 4:21.

Simmons and Britney Boland finished with 10 points apiece for the Storm, who will miss the postseason for the first time since the Iowa Conference Tournament began in 2000.