Storm fall to Dubuque in final seconds

DUBUQUE, Iowa — Abbey Meyer scored a game-high 24 points and hit the game-winner with 2.6 seconds left as Dubuque beat the Simpson women's basketball team in a thriller, 88-86 on Wednesday night.

Seconds after Claire Johnson hit the game-tying 3, Meyer hit a runner in the lane to put Dubuque ahead. After a timeout, Johnson's contested heave missed the mark as time expired.

Madison Boer added 21 points on 6 of 7 shooting and Cece Pope had 10 points and nine rebounds for the Spartans (2-5, 1-2 Iowa Conference), who led almost the entire game. Meyer scored 14 points in the second half and handed out a game-high five assists.

Noreen Morrow scored a season-high 23 points and pulled down seven rebounds to lead the Storm (5-3, 2-1), who trailed by as many as 11 points in the first half and didn't take the lead until the fourth quarter on a Morrow layup with 8:14 left.

A pair of free throws by Boer gave Dubuque an 86-83 lead with 20 seconds left. Following a timeout, Janey Botkins passed up a look from the right wing and found Johnson in the right corner, who buried the game-tying 3 with 14 seconds left. 

Johnson, Victoria Hazard and Rachel Freland scored 10 points apiece.

Key Players
Noreen Morrow — 23 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block
Claire Johnson — 10 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals
Victoria Hazard — 10 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists, 1 block
Rachel Freland — 10 points, 1 rebound, 3 steals

Game Notes
• Simpson falls to 67-9 all-time against Dubuque.
• The Storm have dropped two games in a row to the Spartans by a combined four points.
• Morrow's 23 points were one shy of her career high, set twice in the previous two seasons. 
• Johnson and Freland tied career highs in scoring set earlier this season.

Up Next
Friday, Dec. 8 vs. Kansas Christian