Claire Johnson
Claire Johnson

Wartburg beats Storm in A-R-C opener

WAVERLY, Iowa -- Cameron Kincaid scored a team-high 14 points but No. 18 Wartburg pulled away in the second half to beat the Simpson women's basketball team 83-69 in the American Rivers Conference opener Wednesday.

Kia Rasmussen came off the bench to score 12 points for the Storm (3-1, 0-1), who suffered their first loss of the season. Claire Johnson and Jenna Taylor added 10 points apiece.

Simpson took a 27-26 lead on a Rasmussen 3 with 7:35 left in the second quarter, but three straight 3s by Wartburg triggered an 11-2 run to close the half. The Knights took a 40-31 lead into the locker room at halftime and led the rest of the way.

The Storm stayed within striking distance until the Knights went on an 11-2 run late in the third. Hanna Anderson made back-to-back 3s to give Wartburg a 67-48 lead.

Amanda Brainerd scored 17 points and Emma Gerdes had seven and 15 rebounds for the Knights (4-1, 1-0). Anderson and Katie Lindeman made four 3-pointers apiece to boost Wartburg's bench.

The defending league champion Knights held a 48-28 advantage on the glass.

Rasmussen went 4-for-7 from beyond the arc and Johnson handed out five assists for Simpson.

UP NEXT

Simpson travels to Luther on Saturday, Dec. 1. Start time is set for 2 p.m. in Decorah.