Storm take down Dominican in home opener; advance to championship game

INDIANOLA, Iowa - Inside Cowles Fieldhouse for the first time this season, the Storm did not disappoint, taking down Dominican 82-72 to punch their ticket to the Bruce Wilson Shootout championship game.

Led by Levi Gurwell's 18 points, Simpson (2-3) defended its home court in the opening game of the Bruce Wilson Shootout. Cam Henderson added 14 and Colton Rasmussen, and Marcus Haupert both finished with 11 points as the balanced attack proved to be too much for Dominican (0-3).

Simpson outrebounded the Stars 49-to-40 and reached the free throw line 30 times on the night, connecting for 20 points at the stripe. As a team, Simpson finished 29-for-65 (44.9 percent) from the field with four 3-pointers on 14 attempts, along with 10 assists, eight steals, and three blocks.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Dominican led early in the first half, holding a 16-13 edge seven minutes in action before a 3-point play from Gurwell knotted up the score.
• Rasmussen connected on a 3-ball from the corner on the following possession to give Simpson the lead, and the Storm never looked back.
• Before halftime, Simpson expanded on their lead, opening up a double-digit lead and scoring 47 in the first half.
• The lead swelled to as many as 13 in the second half and Simpson held strong at 63-53 at the halfway point in the second half.
• Dominican began to chip away at the lead over the final minutes of action, bringing the game to just one possession with four minutes left.
• However, the Storm were not rattled with key baskets from Haupert and Henderson helping calm the Stars' comeback. Simpson iced the game at the free throw line, converting seven free throws and clinching its spot in the championship game tomorrow afternoon.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES

Levi Gurwell - 18 points, 6-for-9 FG, 20 minutes
Cam Henderson - 14 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
Marcus Haupert - 11 points, 5-for-8 FG, 7 rebounds
Bo Huston - 4 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists

UP NEXT

Simpson advances to the Bruce Wilson Shootout championship game against Wisconsin-Eau Claire on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.