Spartans outlast Storm in double overtime

DUBUQUE, Iowa – The Simpson College women's basketball team saw its five-game winning streak come to an end with an 83-76 double overtime loss to Dubuque on Saturday.

A pair of free throws by Haley Rasmussen gave the Storm (10-7, 5-3 A-R-C) a 66-64 edge with 4.8 seconds remaining, but a made layup by Isabella Tierney with 0.1 left on the clock sent the game into extra minutes. The game was still level after five more minutes, but Simpson ran out of gas and Dubuque (10-7, 5-4 A-R-C) held on for the win.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Simpson came out of the gates hot and took a 14-5 lead on a 3-point basket from Elle Street.
• The Spartans charged back in the final five minutes of the opening quarter and used the momentum to take a 27-23 lead with 4:47 left in the second frame.
• The Storm ended the half on an 11-3 run to lead 34-30 at halftime.
• Each team went on a 12-0 scoring spree during the third quarter.
• Simpson clung to a one-point advantage heading into the final 10 minutes but saw its lead disappear after Dubuque hit back-to-back triples to start the fourth.
• With the game tied at 64-64, Molly Lutmer pulled down a huge offensive rebound which led to Haley Rasmussen getting fouled with 4.8 seconds left.
• Rasmussen knocked down both free throws to put the Storm ahead by two, but the Spartans drew a foul of their own on a made layup by Isabella Tierney. Tierney was unable to complete what would have been the game-winning three-point play, however, keeping the game alive for the Storm.
• Lutmer and Rasmussen scored the first five points of overtime, and a second trifecta by Lutmer gave Simpson a 74-68 lead with 2:42 on the clock. The Storm were held scoreless from there, however, as Dubuque tied the game again to force yet another overtime period.
• The Storm ran out of gas in the second extra period and managed just one layup as the Spartans pulled away to complete the season sweep.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Simpson converted just eight 3-pointers in 34 attempts and shot a season-low 35.7 percent overall.
• Dubuque won the rebounding battle 66-44, including a 19-9 edge in offensive rebounds which led to 15 second chance points.
• The Storm forced the Spartans into 24 turnovers while committing just 10.

STORM LEADERS
Cassie Nash - 21 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, 4 steals
Molly Lutmer - 17 points, 9 rebounds
Haley Rasmussen - 15 points, 2 steals
Dylan Holland - 5 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists
Elle Street - 6 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals

NOTES

• Cassie Nash surpassed 1,400 career points and now has 21 career games with 20+ points.
• Haley Rasmussen has made at least one triple in 25 consecutive games.
• This was Simpson's first overtime contest of the year.

UP NEXT
The Storm return home for a rivalry matchup against Central (9-9, 3-6 A-R-C) on Wednesday evening.