Simpson women start strong in Phoenix

PHOENIX - Stacey Schutjer, Kate Nielsen and Morgan Terpstra scored 10 points apiece, leading a balanced Simpson attack in an 80-46 win against Dallas at the 2010 Grand Canyon Classic on Wednesday.

Nielsen and Terpstra paced a strong effort by the Simpson bench, which outscored the Dallas reserves 52-8 as the Storm (8-3) won their seventh-straight. Nielsen added eight rebounds and four steals.

Cara Sczepanski scored 11 points and pulled down eight rebounds to lead the Crusaders (1-6). Joirdan Cole added 11 points.

The Storm scored the first eight points of the game and never looked back, leading by as much as 28 in the first half.

Jeni Hegstrom scored eight points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds. Jamie Elbert chipped in nine points and four steals off the bench and Ashley Rogers, Kelsie Reeves and Darrina Bledsoe handed out four assists each.

Simpson will face Ohio Northern in the tournament championship game Thursday at 1 p.m. CST. The Polar Bears defeated Eastern Connecticut State, 55-37.