Feb 26, 2011
In front of over 2,000 fans at a packed Eby Fieldhouse, Simpson jumped out to a 16-5 lead in the first 6:55. Coe started the game 1-of-14 from the field and didn't put its first points on the scoreboard until a layup by senior Devvin Rolston (Clinton, Iowa/Clinton) 3:14 into the game.
A layup by junior Kayla Waskow (Dunkerton, Iowa/Dunketon) with 11:43 to play in the first half sparked a 12-0 run for the Kohawks over the next 4:27, as they took their first lead on a pair of free throws by Waskow with 7:16 left in the half. Simpson's Ali Sokol hit a layup, along with a free throw, to give the Storm their final lead at 19-17 with 5:44 to play in the first half.
With 5:20 to play in the opening frame, senior Kayla Lincoln (Maynard, Iowa/West Central) hit her second trey of the game, giving Coe the lead, and starting an 8-1 run over the next 2:33. A pair of Sokol free throws and a 3-pointer by Cathy Kain for Simpson tied the game with 1:11 left in the half, but Rolston had a layup with :36 left and freshman Hannah Breitbach (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Xavier) hit a 3-pointer with :11 to play in the half, giving Coe a 30-25 lead at the break.
Coe still had a five point lead with 14:56 to play when freshman Mary Halvorson (Waterville, Iowa/Waukon) hit a pair of free throws, as Coe went on a 7-0 run over the next 1:53 to take its largest lead of the game. Sokol again hit a pair of free throws for the Storm, followed by a 3-pointer, to cut Coe's lead to seven with 11:20 to play.
The Kohawks went nearly 10 minutes without a field goal midway through the second half, but scored nine points during the stretch at the free throw line, before Waskow hit a jumper in the paint with 3:54 to play, giving Coe a 56-46 lead. That field goal would be the last of the game for Coe, as Simpson went on an 8-0 run over the next 2:14, leaving Coe with a 56-54 lead and :34 left on the clock.
Following a Simpson timeout, Lincoln hit a pair of free throws with :33 left, giving Coe a 58-54 lead. Simpson's Mindy Hutchcroft missed a 3-pointer with :23 left, as Waskow grabbed the rebound and looked to seal the Kohawk win at the free throw line. Waskow made the first, but missed the second with :19 left, giving the Storm the ball. Simpson missed a layup, but a rebound by Ashley Rogers gave Hutchcroft a shot at redemption, as she hit a jumper with :06 left to make it a three-point game.
With :05 left, Waskow missed a pair of free throws, but Senior Sarah Anciaux (Iowa City, Iowa/City) grabbed the rebound and sealed the Kohawk win.
Waskow had a game-high 19 points off the bench, while Anciaux and Lincoln joined her in double figures with 12 points apiece. Anciaux added a game-high 11 rebounds and two assists, while Lincoln had six rebounds and six blocked shots.
Rolston had a career-high four blocked shots, while senior Kaitlin Breitbach (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Washington) added six boards and two assists. Junior Leslie Ware (Des Moines, Iowa/Johnston) tied a career-high for the second-straight game with six rebounds.
With two points on the night, K. Breitbach became the 55th player in school history to surpass 300 career points. Anciaux was 5-of-6 from the free throw line, as she moved into third on the all-time made free throw's list with 217.
The Kohawks will find out their destination for the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Monday. The selection show is at 2 p.m. on NCAA.com. A link will be posted on our Twitter and Facebook pages, with both being accessible from the front page of CoeAthletics.com.