Red-hot shooting leads Simpson to victory over Loras in A-R-C opener

INDIANOLA, Iowa – Shooting over 60.0 percent from the floor, the Simpson College women's basketball team defeated Loras 87-59 in its American Rivers Conference opener.

The Storm (3-3, 1-0 A-R-C) pulled away from the Duhawks (3-4, 0-2 A-R-C) with a highly efficient second quarter, knocking down 11 of 12 shots from the field and 4 of 5 at the line. Simpson continued its hot shooting in the final 20 minutes, making 16 of 28 field goal attempts for its largest win of the season.

Simpson ended the game shooting 60.8 percent from the floor, 68.8 percent from deep, and 82.4 percent at the line. Five players achieved double-digit scoring, while Ella Anderson notched her first double-double of the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Loras went out in front 12-4 but an 8-0 Storm run to close the first tied things up at 12-12.
• Simpson shot a blistering 91.7 percent from the floor in the second, outscoring the Duhawks 28-16 for a 40-28 halftime lead.
• The two teams battled back and forth in the third period before Simpson more than doubled its advantage with a 13-0 run to open the fourth. Maddax DeVault sank two 3-pointers during the stretch, while Macy Gaskill added a third.
• Simpson led by as many as 31 before turning to its bench to close things out.

STARS OF THE GAME

• Maddax DeVault: 20 points, 5-6 3FG, 2 steals
• Taylor Hansen: 12 points, 3-4 3FG, 2 rebounds
• Ella Anderson: 11 points, 12 rebounds, 3 ast, 2 steals
• Morgan Christian: 10 points, 6 assists, 3 steals
• Elle Street: 10 points, 3 assists, 2 steals

NOTES

• Simpson last shot over 60.0 percent from the floor on Feb. 21, 2023 against Dubuque.
• The Storm's 68.8 shooting percentage from behind the arc is the team's best efficiency since shooting 61.9 percent against Concordia M'Head.
• Head coach Brian Niemuth is now three wins away from becoming the 12th Division III women's basketball coach to reach 700 career victories.
• Simpson starts conference play 1-0 for the third straight season and sixth time in the last seven years.

UP NEXT
Simpson continues conference play against Buena Vista next Saturday in Indianola at 2 p.m.