Rasmussen, Nash propel Simpson past Eagles

LA CROSSE, Wis. – Haley Rasmussen drained seven 3-pointers, Cassie Nash contributed 18 points, and the Simpson College women's basketball team earned a 67-56 nonconference victory over Wis.-La Crosse on Saturday.

Nash (14) and Rasmussen (12) combined for 26 points in the first half to help Simpson (3-2) to a 35-31 halftime advantage. Wis.-La Crosse (3-3) was the owner of a four-point advantage after the first 10 minutes, but a 17-9 second quarter for the Storm swayed the lead towards the visitors before the break.

Simpson opened the third quarter on a 10-2 run to claim its first 12-point lead of the game and led 48-39 at the end of the frame following Rasmussen's sixth triple of the night. The Eagles gave Simpson a bit of a scare with a 7-0 run early in the fourth, but the Storm regrouped out of a timeout and went back ahead by 12 thanks to four points by Nash and another trifecta by Rasmussen. The home team did not get closer than seven points from that point on.

STORM LEADERS

• Haley Rasmussen - 28 points (7-10 3FG), 3 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals
• Cassie Nash - 18 points (8-13 FG), 4 steals, 3 assists, 3 rebounds
• Molly Lutmer - 11 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
• Dylan Holland - 6 points, 9 rebounds
• Elle Street - 5 rebounds, 2 steals

NOTES

• Haley Rasmussen's seven 3-pointers were the most by a Storm player since teammate Molly Lutmer sank seven against Dubuque on Feb. 21 of last season. The single-game record is eight, set by Amy Hamilton in 2008.
• Rasmussen now has four games with double-digit scoring, including 20+ points in her last two outings.
• Simpson improves to 6-2 all-time against Wis.-La Crosse, winning its third straight matchup. 
• The Storm shot 47.1 percent from the floor and 40.9 percent behind the arc, both season-highs. Simpson also converted a season-high 10 free throws and held Wis.-La Crosse to a season-low five 3-pointers.  

UP NEXT
Simpson returns to Mitchell Hall Gymnasium tomorrow to face Wis.-River Falls in more nonconference action in La Crosse. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.