Simpson falls to Vikings in season opener

DUBUQUE, Iowa – The Simpson College women's basketball team opened its 2022-23 season on Friday with a 74-62 loss to Augustana (Ill.) at the Loras Tip-Off Classic.

A day after earning American Rivers Conference Offensive MVP honors for women's soccer, Cassie Nash led the Storm (0-1) with 20 points, seven rebounds, six steals and three assists. All but three of her points came in the second half as she logged her 11th career game with 20 or more points.

Anna Wanek contributed eight points, Haley Rasmussen had seven, and Morgan Pietig added five. Khloe Wyatt (6) and Molly Lutmer (5) combined for 11 points in their first game with the Storm.

Simpson made 51.3 percent of its shots inside the arc, but struggled from distance and at the free throw line. The Storm made 6-of-25 attempts from three-point range and just four of 11 free throws. Meanwhile, Augustana sank 11 3-pointers in 36 attempts and converted seven of nine free throws.

The Storm led 12-11 after the first period, but the Vikings (1-0) opened the second with eight straight points before widening the gap to 12 with a 9-2 run. Simpson cut the deficit to 28-22 on a Wanek triple, but Augustana responded with a pair of threes and took a 38-24 lead into the break.

The Vikings continued to have success behind the arc in the second half, using five more trifectas to lead 58-33 at the conclusion of the third quarter. Augustana captured its largest lead at 68-38, but Simpson mounted a comeback in the final 7:50. Fueled by 11 points from Nash and seven from Rasmussen, the Storm pulled within 10 but ran out of time to close the gap completely.

Up Next
Simpson looks to collect its first win of the season against Marian (Wis.) on Saturday at 2 p.m.