Schutjer leads Storm with career-high 21 points

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - Sophomore Stacey Schutjer scored a career-high 21 points as No. 25 Simpson rolled to a 92-56 victory Friday in the opening game of the 2009 North Central College/Holiday Inn Select Tip-Off Tournament.

Simpson advances to the Satuday's 5 p.m. championship game, where it will face the winner of Blackburn and North Central.

Simpson led from wire-to-wire, shooting a scorching 56.7 percent from the field in the contest. The Storm (1-0) kept Olivet out of rhythm, forcing 40 turnovers while holding the Comets (0-3) to 36.2 percent shooting.

Leading 15-13 with 9:28 remaining in the first half, Simpson went on a 16-2 run over the next 2 minutes 30 seconds in building a 31-15 lead. A layup by Jeni Hegstrom with 29 seconds to go before halftime gave the Storm its biggest lead of the first half, as the team went into the locker room leading 46-24.

The lead grew to as much as 40 in the second half, when Jenny McElree knocked down a pair of free throws to give Simpson an 83-43 lead with 7:19 to go in regulation.

The duo of Katie Kitzman and Mindy Hutchcroft joined Schutjer in double-figures, as Kitzman had 15 and Hutchcroft, a transfer from Truman State, chipped in with 11.  Kitzman led the team in assists (6) and steals (3). Hegstrom and sophomore Ali Sokol paced Simpson on the boards, grabbing five rebounds each.

Millissa Bageris led Olivet with 11 points and seven rebounds, the only Comet scorer in double figures.