Storm routes Central for sixth straight win

INDIANOLA, Iowa - Sophomore center Stacey Schutjer (Titonka, Iowa/Woden-Crystal Lake-Titonka) scored a game-high 22 points and Simpson scored 33 points off 37 turnovers in a 93-60 win over Central Saturday afternoon at Cowles Fieldhouse.

The third-highest scoring team in the nation, the Storm (15-3, 8-1 IIAC) reached the 90-point mark for the second time in as many games and the fourth time this season.

With the win, Simpson extends its winning streak to six games and sweeps the season series with the Dutch (2-16, 1-8 IIAC). Simpson took an 88-81 decision in the season's first matchup in Pella on Dec. 2.

Schutjer connected on 8-of-10 free throw attempts and pulled down a team-high eight rebounds as Simpson won its 25th consecutive home-game against an Iowa Conference foe.

Mindy Hutchcroft (Steamboat Rock, Iowa/AGWSR) scored 13 points off the bench, shooting 3-of-5 from three-point range. Katie Kitzman (Gillman, Iowa/East Marshall) rounded out the double-digit scorers for the Storm with 11 and eight rebounds.

Nicole Strasko paced Central with a double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds). Kelsey Schuring led the way with 13 points and Jordan Waddell added 12.

Simpson never trailed in the contest, using a 24-7 run over a span of 8:30 in the first half to expand a two-point lead into a 19-point advantage.

The lead grew to as much as 37 in the second half as the Storm outscored the Dutch 49-33 in the final 20 minutes.

In a physical contest, Simpson connected on 25-of-35 free throws (71.4 percent) and Central made good on 21-of-29 attempts from the charity stripe (72.4 percent).

Simpson hits the road for a pair of games next week, beginning with a trip to Mt. Vernon to take on Cornell Wednesday evening. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.