Storm suffer setback at Loras

DUBUQUE, Iowa -- Marissa Schroeder scored a game-high 21 points and Loras shot better than 60 percent from the field in an 86-69 win over the Simpson women's basketball team in Iowa Conference action on Wednesday.

Riley Eckhart added 18 points off the bench for the Duhawks (15-9, 7-8), who moved into a tie with Simpson for fifth-place in the league standings.

A back-and-forth game for most of the first half, Loras built a little cushion with a 6-0 run late in the second quarter. Simpson led 33-32 when Cyerra Hutchins made four straight free throws and Macenzie Kraemer converted a breakaway layup to make it 39-32.

Loras led the rest of the way, building an 11-point lead in the third quarter and growing the lead to as many as 19 in the fourth. Back-to-back 3s by Eckhart and Addie Oberman sparked a 12-2 run early in the fourth that put the game away.

Victoria Hazard scored 17 points for the Storm (13-11, 7-8), who lost despite shooting better than 52 percent from the field. Simpson attempted a season-low nine 3-pointers (4-for-9) and managed just 17-for-30 from the charity stripe.

Noreen Morrow added 12 points and Claire Johnson had 10 with five rebounds and four assists for Simpson.

Tournament Talk
The Storm need a win Saturday against Coe and a Buena Vista loss to Luther in order to have a chance to move into the fourth-place slot. With tonight's win, Loras could also enter the conversation and create a three-way tie with a win at Dubuque on Saturday.

Key Players
Victoria Hazard -- 17 pts, 2 rebs, 3 asts, 2 steals
Noreen Morrow -- 12 pts, 2 rebs, 2 asts
Claire Johnson -- 10 pts, 5 rebs, 4 asts
Jenna Taylor -- 8 pts, 1 reb

Up Next
Saturday, Feb. 17 vs. Coe