Storm win overtime thriller against Coe

INDIANOLA, Iowa -- The Simpson women's basketball team survived a scare on Saturday against Coe and escaped Cowles Fieldhouse with a 78-73 overtime victory.

After falling down by five with under-two minutes to play in regulation, the Storm (13-3-, 5-2 American Rivers) buried two three-pointers to take a two-point lead with 26 seconds left to play. Simpson went up by two on a made free throw by Janey Botkins with four seconds left and the Kohawks' (9-7, 3-4) Jackie Feldt made a layup as time expired to send the game into overtime.

In the extra frame, Claire Johnson and Jenna Taylor each scored four points to lift Simpson to its fourth win in a row and moved to 45-13 all-time against Coe.

Right from the start the Storm took an early five-nothing advantage and pushed it to 10-6, before the Kohawks went on a streak and ended the first quarter with a 19-14 lead.

Simpson faced two nine-point deficits during the second quarter, but was able to claw back to within one after a triple by Cassie Chubb.

Johnson finished with season-highs of 22 points and seven steals, and also added six rebounds and six assists to her impressive statline. Taylor ended with 15 points, Chubb had 10 and Cameron Kincaid tallied 13 to help the cause.

Coe had four student-athletes finished in double-figures, Destiny Smith (17), Madeline Wilkins (11), Jackie Feldt (19) and Jamie Feldt (10).

GAME NOTES

The Storm proved why they are the top free throw shooting team in the conference and went 12 of 14 from the charity stripe, while the Kohawks finished by shooting 8 of 16. Simpson displayed tough defense all night and forced 27 turnovers

UP NEXT

Simpson travels to Buena Vista on Wednesday for another conference game. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.