Storm battle, fall to Stevens Point in season-opener

DUBUQUE, Iowa -- Victoria Hazard scored 14 points in her collegiate debut and Noreen Morrow came within two rebounds of a double-double but the Simpson women's basketball team lost to Wis.-Stevens Point 69-66 in the season-opener Friday in the first game of the 2017 Fidelity Bank & Trust Tip-Off Tournament hosted by Loras.

Taylor Barrett scored a game-high 19 points to go along with eight rebounds to lead the Pointers (2-0), who used a big run in the first quarter to take control of the game and never look back.

Hazard went 6-for-9 from the field and Morrow had 10 points and eight rebounds to lead the Storm (0-1), who shot a higher percentage (46.3 - 35.3) and committed fewer turnovers than Stevens Point. Morrow finished with 10 points and eight rebounds and Maddie Simmons chipped in 11 points.

Turning Points
Simpson took a 6-2 lead on a layup by Hazardwith 7:13 to play in the first quarter, but Taylor Barrett responded with a short jumper to pull Stevens Point within two. Barrett's bucket sparked a 16-2 run for the Pointers, giving them a 18-8 lead on a 3 by Leix Roland with 58 seconds left in the first.

Simpson responded with an 11-3 run, capped off by back-to-back layups by Hazard midway through the second quarter. Hazard's second layup pulled the Storm within 21-19.

Morrow hit a jumper with 2:27 to go to pull Simpson within a point, 63-62. Mickey Roland and Hazard traded layups before Stevens Point made the next four free throws for a six-point lead with 15 seconds left. Janey Botkins canned a three with 8 seconds left but Simpson couldn't get a shot off on the final possession after a Stevens Point turnover.

Key Players
Victoria Hazard -- 14 points, 3 assists
Maddie Simmons -- 11 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 2-2 3-pointers
Noreen Morrow -- 10 points, 8 rebounds
Jenna Taylor -- 9 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists

Up Next
The Storm play Carroll (Wis.) on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Pioneers (0-1) lost to Loras 93-67 in Friday's second game.