Storm survive at No. 4 Wartburg in double overtime

WAVERLY, Iowa -- Head coach Brian Niemuth opted to go home early instead of playing for the tie, so freshman Regan Freland connected on a last-second 3-pointer to lift No. 14 Simpson College to an 81-80 double overtime victory over No. 4 Wartburg on Monday.

After an eventful 45 minutes of play, the second overtime period only saw nine points combined between the two clubs. The Knights (12-2, 5-2 A-R-C) grabbed an 80-78 lead with over 90 seconds to go in the period.

Niemuth called a timeout with 15 seconds left to draw up a plan for the Storm (9-0, 8-0 A-R-C) to collect their second win in three games against Wartburg. Freland inbounded the ball to Jenna Taylor and Taylor passed it right back to a wide-open Freland for the game-winner. The Knights had time for a last-second heave that went right of the rim.

Cameron Kincaid showed she has ice in her veins by sinking a pair of free throws with no time remaining on the clock to knot the game at 65-65 to send the game into overtime. Kincaid attempted a last-second layup but was fouled on the play.

Simpson wasted no time in gathering a large advantage thanks to a 21-4 run to start the game. Kincaid and Freland combined for 14 points and the team hit five 3-pointers during the span. The Storm ended the period with a 24-12 tilt by holding Wartburg to just one make from deep.

The Knights flipped the script in the second stanza by holding Simpson to only one make from the floor to score six points. Wartburg's offense hit its stride with a 50% shooting clip to grab a 33-30 lead at the break.

Through the first three minutes of play in the third, the Knights garnered a nine-point lead. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Hattie Rhodes and Kia Rasmussen cut the lead to three before Taylor capped a 10-3 run with a basket to place the game at 46-44 in favor of the hosts. The offense ended the quarter on a 10-2 spurt with Freland scoring five during the run.

Simpson carried a four-point lead in the fourth that was washed away as Wartburg outscored the Storm 15-11 in the frame. The Knights had hopes of handing the Storm their first blemish of the season, but the last-second foul brought Kincaid to line, who has only missed one free three in 32 chances all season.

In the first overtime period, Rasmussen scored first with a layup and the Knights answered with a pair of 3-pointers. Cassie Nash hit a layup with 15 seconds to go to give Simpson a 76-75 advantage. Wartburg's Payton Draper had a chance to win it at the free throw line with two seconds left, but missed her first shot and tied the game with her second at 76-76.

Kincaid nearly had a double-double with a team-high 21 points and eight boards. Freland tallied a career-high 17 points with five triples off the bench. Rhodes went a perfect 4-for-4 from deep for 12 points to help the cause.

Simpson ended with 12 makes from long range and had one miss in 20 chances at the free throw line.

Up Next
The Storm will be the No. 1 seed in this year's American Rivers Conference Tournament that begins next week. Simpson will host a quarterfinal contest Tuesday, March 8.