Wanek hits game-winning triple, Niemuth collects 400th league win

DECORAH, Iowa – Head coach Brian Niemuth tallied his 400th career conference win on Saturday afternoon as the Simpson College women's basketball team defeated Luther 75-73 inside the Regents Center.

Fourteen third-quarter points from Cassie Nash put Simpson (11-10, 6-6 A-R-C) ahead 59-56 going into the final 10 minutes. Two additional layups from Nash along with back-to-back jump shots from Molly Lutmer and Anna Wanek extended the lead to six, 67-61, but Luther (12-10, 7-6) closed the gap and took its first lead of the frame with a 12-5 run capped off by a Megan Miller jumper.

After over two minutes of scoreless action, the Storm got the ball back with under 30 seconds and opted to hold for the final shot. Nash drove to the hoop for the score but was quickly triple-teamed and kicked the ball back out to Elle Street. The freshman found Wanek open in the left corner for the game-winning triple with 5.3 ticks left.

While Nash took over the second half with 18 of her game-high 26 points, it was the Haley Rasmussen show in the first 20 minutes. The sophomore guard poured in 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting from the floor. Her third triple of the second quarter gave Simpson its largest lead of the contest at 37-30 and her last layup of the half halted a 10-0 spurt by the Norse, who took a 40-39 lead into intermission.

The win marks Coach Niemuth's 400th career victory in conference play. Throughout his 36 seasons as a coach in the American Rivers Conference, formerly the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Niemuth has amassed double-digit league wins 22 times highlighted by three undefeated campaigns. The 9-time Conference Coach of the Year has won 13 league championships during his tenure and is 660-285 overall.

The Storm shot 50.0 percent from the floor and outscored the Norse 42-26 in the paint. Simpson scored 23 points off Luther's 25 miscues and held a 21-2 advantage in fast break points.

Luther shot 45.8 percent overall and tallied 16 second-chance points thanks to a 14-4 advantage in offensive rebounds. Megan Miller scored 17 points to lead the Norse, while Kailey Jones added 15 points and 18 rebounds including six on the offensive glass.

Simpson has now won seven consecutive matchups against the Norse and remains in sixth place in A-R-C standings, one game behind Luther and Dubuque with seven victories apiece.

Up Next
The Storm host Buena Vista for a 5:30 p.m. tip on Feb. 8.