First half run powers Storm over No. 20 Grand View

INDIANOLA, Iowa - In a matchup of top-25 programs, a late first-half run lifted the home team to victory.

With a 13-2 run over the final four minutes of the first half, No. 21 Simpson provided itself some breathing room which it held throughout the remainder of the contest in a 74-64 win over visiting Grand View Saturday afternoon at Cowles Fieldhouse.

The Vikings (10-5) came into the game ranked No. 20 in NAIA Division II.

Katie Kitzman scored a game-high 20 points and pulled down six rebounds for the Storm (6-1, 2-0 IIAC), which led by as much as 19 in the second half. Reining Iowa Conference Athlete of the Week, Stacey Schutjer scored 12 and had five rebounds while Amy Hamilton chipped in with 11 and four assists.

The first 17-plus minutes of the game featured 11 lead changes and five ties, as neither team could gain a clear advantage. After a pair of made free throws from Jennifer Jorgensen gave the Vikings a 31-28 lead, Emily Smith cut the deficit to one on a driving layup. Jenny McElree made 1-of-2 at the free-throw line to tie the contest at 31 before Smith knocked down a trey for a 34-31 Storm lead.

Simpson held a 41-33 lead at the break thanks to the late burst. A Kitzman lay-in at the 15:11 mark in the second half gave the Storm its largest lead at 19 points before Grand View chipped away with a 13-5 run that made the score 61-52 with 11:47 remaining.

A lay-up from Ali Sokol moved Simpson's lead back into double digits, which helped the Storm close out the 10-point victory.

Four Vikings reached double-digits on the night, led by Jorgensen's 20 points. She also brought down a game-high 11 rebounds and attempted 20 free throws, connecting on 13. As a team, Grand View shot 60.6 percent from the line (20-33) while Simpson shot 72 percent (18-25).

Saturday's win marks the Storm's final home game of 2009. The team's travels to St. Paul, Minn. for its next contest, a matchup with Minnesota Conference foe, Bethel. Tipoff is set or 1 p.m.