Simpson loses heartbreaker to Buena Vista

INDIANOLA, Iowa - Simpson erased a 15-point, second-half deficit but Jhade Hammer spoiled Senior Night at Cowles Fieldhouse when she broke away for the game-winning layup with three seconds left, lifting Buena Vista to a 75-73 win.

Trailing the entire game, the Storm (19-4, 12-2 IIAC) tied the game for the second time on Stacey Schutjer's (Titonka, Iowa/Woden-Crystal Lake-Titonka) turn-around jumper with nine seconds left. But after a quick inbound, Hammer snuck past the Simpson press and got all the way to the hoop for the game-winner.

The loss snaps Simpson's 10-game winning streak and ends the team's run of consecutive victories at home against conference opponents at 27.

Aubrey Hauswirth scored 17 points and pulled down 12 rebounds to lead the Beavers (14-8, 8-5). Hammer added 12 points, as Buena Vista became the first Iowa Conference team to defeat Simpson at Cowles Fieldhouse in the regular season since Luther beat the Storm, 61-55 Jan 27, 2007.

The Simpson defense – namely Katie Kitzman (Gillman, Iowa/East Marshall) – held the conference's leading scorer, Margo Muhlbauer, to only three points on 1 of 13 shooting.

Schutjer paced the effort for Simpson with 18 points. Amy Hamilton (Ames, Iowa/Ames) scored 11 and hit three 3-pointers and Jeni Hegstrom (Perry, Iowa/Perry) added 10 points. Darrina Bledsoe (Glendale, Ariz./West View) matched a career-high with her third nine-assist game of the season.

After a sluggish showing for the first 29 minutes of the game, Simpson picked up the pressure in the last 11, outscoring Buena Vista 32-19 in the final 10:49.

Down by five after a Jocelyn Kock layup with 1:36 left, SC took advantage of pair of trips to the free-throw line and two BVU turnovers. Bledsoe knocked down 1 of 2 at the line before Brittany Gunn lost the ball out of bounds. Schutjer went to the line next, hitting both attempts to make the score 73-71 with 44 seconds left.

A turnover by Muhlbauer on the next possession set up Schutjer's game-tying jumper with nine seconds on the clock.

Needing a win to clinch a share of the regular season title, Simpson allowed Coe in the conversation after defeating Wartburg 75-60 Wednesday. Coe (15-7, 10-3) hosts Simpson in a crucial matchup Saturday at 2 p.m. in Cedar Rapids. A win ensures the Storm at least a share of the conference title – a loss ties the two teams in the loss column.