Women’s basketball edged by Saint Benedict

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Simpson College women's basketball team mounted a valiant fourth quarter comeback but ultimately fell short, 76-69, to Saint Benedict on Saturday at the Gunderson Hotel and Suites Thanksgiving Classic.

Trailing by double digits in the final frame, the Storm (3-3) found their spark with a Morgan Pietig 3-pointer at the 7:57 mark, igniting a 15-5 run that brought them within a point at 70-69 with under a minute to play. However, following a timeout, Lauren Arnold buried a corner three to push the Bennies (3-1) ahead by four, a gap Simpson couldn't bridge in the final seconds.

Simpson started strong, jumping out to a 7-2 lead, but a 20-9 Saint Benedict run left the Storm trailing by six at the end of the first quarter. The Storm battled back in the second, outscoring the Bennies 19-16 and tying the game at 35-35 on an Ella Anderson layup. However, a late 3-pointer by Kira Young sent Saint Benedict into halftime with a narrow edge. The Bennies extended their lead to six at the end of the third and led 65-54 early in the fourth before Simpson's rally began.

SIMPSON LEADERS

• Haley Rasmussen: 20 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
• Molly Lutmer: 19 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 assist
• Ella Anderson: 13 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
• Morgan Pietig: 7 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal
• Karsen Jacks: 3 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal

NOTES

• Saint Benedict takes a slim 3-2 advantage in the all-time series.
• Ella Anderson records Simpson's first double-double of the season and becomes the first rookie to accomplish the feat since Cassie Nash on Jan. 11, 2020.

UP NEXT
Simpson faces No. 3/4 Wis.-Whitewater tomorrow at 2 p.m.