Late surge powers Duhawks past Storm

INDIANOLA, Iowa – A late surge by Loras was too much for the Simpson College women's basketball team to overcome as the Storm fell 45-41 in their American Rivers Conference opener.

Haley Rasmussen hit two triples as part of an 8-0 run that gave Simpson (2-3, 0-1 A-R-C) its first lead of the game, 21-19, right before the break. The Storm maintained the advantage throughout the entire third quarter and went up by six in the fourth after five straight points from Anna Wanek. However, the Duhawks (3-1, 1-0 A-R-C) orchestrated an 8-0 spurt fueled by six points from Sami Martin to snag the lead back with 1:13 to go.

Rasmussen tied the game with a layup on the Storm's next possession, but the Simpson defense was unable to stop Martin again as she gave the visitors another two-point edge with 18 seconds left. The Storm turned the ball over on the ensuing possession and Cierra Bachmann iced the game with free throws.

Martin (20) and Bachmann (11) combined for 31 points for the Duhawks, who handed the Storm their first conference loss since Feb. 15, 2020.

Rasmussen and Wanek each recorded 14 points, while Wanek and Shaniah Temple both pulled down seven rebounds.

The Storm managed to limit the Duhawks to just two 3-pointers in 22 attempts, but Loras made up for it in the paint, outscoring Simpson 34-12. The visitors also took advantage of 14 offensive rebounds, turning them into 12 points.

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Simpson remains home to host Iowa Wesleyan next Wednesday at 7 p.m.