Second half surge powers Storm women over Bethel

INDIANOLA - Amy Hamilton scored 16 points on 5 of 7 shooting from beyond the arc and Simpson pulled away in the second half for a 70-46 win against Bethel on Saturday at Cowles Fieldhouse.

Hamilton led four players in double figures for the Storm (7-3), who won their sixth game in a row after a 1-3 start. Mindy Hutchcroft scored 13 points, Stacey Schutjer added 12 and Cathy Kain led Simpson off the bench with 11.

Jamie Elbert hit a runner to beat the buzzer at the end of the first half, giving Simpson a 28-24 lead. The Storm built off that momentum, mounting a 10-0 run in opening a 14-point lead after halftime.

Simpson led by as much as 28 in the final 20 minutes, out-scoring Bethel 42-22 after a slow first half for the nation's second-highest scoring offense.

Danielle Ruberg and Alicia Montbriand scored nine points apiece to lead the Royals (1-4), who fell to 0-2 all-time against Simpson.

Hamilton dished out a career-high six assists, adding a pair of steals. Darrina Bledsoe handed out five assists and had four steals while Jeni Hegstrom came away with six steals. Schutjer swatted four blocks, as the Simpson defense held Bethel to 33.3 percent shooting for the game.

The Storm will enjoy a 10-day break before heading to Phoenix, Ariz. for the Grand Canyon Classic, held Jan. 29-30. Simpson faces Dallas in the first game of the tournament, tipping off at 1 p.m. CST.