No. 8/9 Gusties hang on to beat Simpson in Florida

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Simpson College women's basketball team converted four consecutive 3-pointers in the final minute to nearly pull off a comeback win over No. 8/9 Gustavus Adolphus, but the Gusties held on to win the neutral site matchup 64-62.

A couple of free throws by lead scorer Kylie Baranick gave Gustavus Adolphus (8-1) a 58-48 lead with 53 seconds left in the game, but the Storm did not go away without a fight. Within a span of 29 seconds, Dylan Holland hit a pair of threes around two other triples by Elle Street and Haley Rasmussen as Simpson (5-6) cut the deficit to two with 19 ticks on the clock.

Baranick converted two more free throws to double the Gusties' lead before Holland added a jumper to pull the Storm within a score once again. However, time ran out before Simpson could complete the upset bid.

FULL GAME SUMMARY

• The contest was tied at 16-16 after the Storm ended the first quarter on an 8-2 run powered by six points from Shaniah Temple.
• Molly Lutmer drained a three to place the score at 19-19, but Simpson was held scoreless from the field in the final seven minutes of the half as Gustavus Adolphus carried a 31-21 lead into the break.
• The Storm battled back into the game with a 20-point third quarter and trailed by just two, 43-41, going into the final 10 minutes. Lutmer led the team with 10 points during the frame, and the defense held the Gusties to 25.0 percent shooting overall.
• With under a minute left, Gustavus Adolphus matched its largest lead of the game at 58-48. The Storm began chipping away at the lead with the help of four consecutive 3-point makes, but the Gusties managed to hang on for the slim victory with 8 of 10 shooting at the stripe in the final minute of play.

TOP CONTRIBUTORS

• Molly Lutmer: 16 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists
• Cassie Nash: 10 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals, 4 assists
• Shaniah Temple: 10 points, 6 rebounds
• Haley Rasmussen: 10 points, 2 assists
• Dylan Holland: 8 points, 6 rebound

NOTES

• Gustavus Adolphus picks up its second win in the all-time series, but Simpson still leads 4-2.
• Haley Rasmussen has scored in double-digits in all but two contests this season and ranks second in the American Rivers Conference with 16.6 points per game.

UP NEXT
Simpson next takes the court on Dec. 29 in Dubuque, Iowa against Bethany Lutheran.