Storm balanced in 94-70 win over Eureka

LAS VEGAS - Kate Nielsen (Urbandale, Iowa) scored 15 points off the bench to lead five players in double figures as Simpson cruised to a 94-70 win over Eureka at the D3hoops.com Classic on Thursday.

The Storm (8-3 overall) tied a season-high in scoring and attempted 91 shots, the third-most in school history.

Ali Sokol (Urbandale, Iowa) scored 14 points, Chelsie Rohrs (Granville, Iowa) and Jamie Elbert (Indianola, Iowa) added 13 each and Stacey Schutjer (Titonka, Iowa) posted a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double.

Simpson handed Eureka only its second loss of the season. The Red Devils (7-2) started the tournament by beating Concordia (Wis.) 63-52 on Tuesday. Caty Eeten scored a game-high 26 points to lead Eureka.

The Storm led from the opening tip and started the game on a 9-0 run thanks to seven straight points from Rohrs. After Khassandrae Brown's layup with 10:54 left in the first half cut Simpson's lead to 25-17, the Storm's full court pressure helped fuel a 14-0 run over the next three minutes.

Simpson led 39-17 when the smoke cleared and closed the first half with a 52-32 lead. Eureka managed to cut the lead to 12 in the second half, but that's as close as it got.

The Storm close play at the D3hoops.com Classic tomorrow when they face Thomas More. Tipoff is set for 11 a.m. Pacific, 1 p.m. Central. Links to live stats and live video available here.