Loras knocks Simpson out of A-R-C Tournament

DUBUQUE, Iowa – The No. 3 seeded Simpson College women's basketball team fell 88-54 to No. 19 Loras in the American Rivers Conference Tournament Semifinal game.

The No. 2 seeded Duhawks (22-4, 14-2 A-R-C) drained 12 3-pointers and separated themselves early with an 18-2 run starting midway through the first quarter and extending into the first two minutes of the second. Loras led 43-31 after 20 minutes and pushed its lead to 65-45 after three with the help of five triples in the final 4:49 of the third period.

While Loras found lots of success behind the arc, Simpson (16-11, 10-6 A-R-C) was held to just three makes in 23 attempts. The Storm were also outrebounded 54-20 including 18-4 on the offensive glass.

Cassie Nash scored all but two of her 19 points in the first half to lead the Storm in scoring and had seven steals, three assists, three rebounds and a block. Haley Rasmussen also reached double-digit scoring with 13 points, and Molly Lutmer had seven points. Elle Street led the rebounding effort with seven boards.

Madison Haslow converted 5 of 7 triples and Cierra Bachmann added three of her own to lead the home team with 19 points apiece.