Fourth-quarter lull dooms Simpson against Wartburg

INDIANOLA, Iowa – The Simpson College women's basketball team stuck with league-leading Wartburg for three quarters but ultimately fell 79-63 inside Cowles Fieldhouse.

The two teams battled to a 51-51 draw at the conclusion of three periods, with neither team leading by more than eight in the first 30 minutes. Britney Young knocked down a three to open the fourth for the visitors, but Anna Wanek quickly answered with her third triple of the contest to level the game again. The Knights (15-4, 10-0 A-R-C) ran away with the game from there, outscoring Simpson 18-0 over the next six minutes of action to remain undefeated in conference play.

Wartburg led 24-17 after the first quarter, but Simpson (10-10, 5-6 A-R-C) flipped the script with a 14-0 spree to go ahead 31-24 halfway through the second. Cassie Nash's second 3-pointer of the quarter gave the home team another seven-point advantage with 54 seconds left and the Storm clung to a 41-36 lead at the break. Both teams struggled offensively in the third quarter, but Wartburg managed to knot the game at 51-all much thanks to seven points from Macy Harris.

Wanek led the Storm with 15 points, scoring eight of those in the opening three minutes to help Simpson to an early 10-6 lead. Molly Lutmer and Nash both contributed 12 points, while Nash also had five rebounds, four assists and three steals. Elle Street hauled in seven rebounds and recorded four assists, both career-highs.

Harris and Maggie Wilkins combined for 44 points for the Knights, while Jaedon Murphy had a dozen to go with a game-high eight rebounds.

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Simpson looks to recharge with a midweek bye and will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 4 at Luther.