Kitzman's career day leads Simpson over Loras

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Katie Kitzman (Gillman, Iowa/East Marshall) scored a career-high 26 points on 8 of 11 shooting to go along with four steals as Simpson beat Loras 82-63 Saturday afternoon at the Loras AWC.

With the win, the Storm (17-3, 10-1 IIAC) extend their winning streak to eight games and clinch a berth in the Iowa Conference Tournament.

Stacey Schutjer (Titonka, Iowa/Woden-Crystal Lake-Titonka) posted her third double-double of the season with 19 points and 11 rebounds, as she and Kitzman accounted for more than half of Simpson's offense.

Brit Kent scored a team-high 16 points for the Duhawks (10-9, 5-5 IIAC). Sarah Pillon added 12 and Lindsey LaBadie had 10.

Kitzman scored the first six points of the game as Simpson raced to a 20-5 lead in the first eight minutes.

The Storm led by as much as 17 in the first half, but a 13-0 run by Loras mid-way through the half trimmed the margin to four. Simpson eventually took a 46-37 lead into the locker room after Kitzman ended the first 20 minutes with a three-point play.

Simpson opened the second half with an 18-5 run that put the game out of reach. The Storm outscored the Duhawks 36-26 in the final frame and led by as much as 26.

Simpson returns to action Wednesday, Feb. 3 when it faces Luther on the front-end of a three-game homestand. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. The Norse (7-12, 2-8 IIAC) lost to Buena Vista 78-70 on Saturday. The Storm defeated Luther 70-53 Jan. 19 in Decorah.