Big third quarter lifts No. 22/17 Loras past Storm

INDIANOLA, Iowa – Nine second-half 3-pointers and nearly 50.0 percent shooting overall was too much for the Simpson College women's basketball team to overcome in an 87-75 loss to No. 22/17 Loras.

The Storm (13-11, 8-7 A-R-C) had the upperhand in the entire first half and led 47-39 midway through the third quarter, but the Duhawks (20-3, 12-2) heated up from long range and sank nine triples in the final 16 minutes of play to secure the win. Loras was 9-for-15 from deep and 19-for-34 overall in the second half.

BREAKING DOWN THE GAME

• Key 3-pointers from Dylan Holland and Morgan Pietig helped Simpson to a 19-16 edge at the end of the first quarter, and a triple by Maddax DeVault on the Storm's first possession of the second period stretched the lead to six.
• Simpson led by six again after a Cassie Nash free throw set the score at 34-28, but the Duhawks ended the half on a 7-2 spree to trail by just one, 36-35, at the break.
• Molly Lutmer scored the first five points of the half and a pair of free throws by Haley Rasmussen gave Simpson a 47-39 lead before the Duhawks got hot behind the 3-point arc and outscored the Storm 27-7 for a 12-point advantage at the end of the third.
• Nash scored 13 of her game-high 24 points in the fourth quarter, but Loras matched the Storm's offensive output to earn its second victory over Simpson in just six days.

SIMPSON LEADERS

• Cassie Nash: 24 points, 6 rebounds, 5 blocks, 3 assists, 2 steals
• Elle Street: 13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
• Molly Lutmer: 11 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals
• Morgan Pietig: 6 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists

TOURNAMENT TALK
Simpson has officially qualified for the upcoming American Rivers Conference Tournament, but will have to wait for the results of Wednesday and Saturday's games to know final seeding. The Storm are currently in fifth with an 8-7 conference record behind Dubuque with a 9-5 mark. 

UP NEXT
The Storm will close out their regular season with a trip to Storm Lake on Wednesday to face the Beavers. Simpson has a bye on Saturday when the rest of the conference concludes regular-season play.

Cassie Nash, Molly Lutmer and Dylan Holland honored as Simpson's 2024 senior class after the game. Photo by Morgan Rosenbeck.