Simpson rallies to defeat the Wheaton Thunder women's basketball team 56-52

Game Leaders

Simpson
Pts: Kate Nielsen - 15
Reb: Kate Nielsen - 7
Ast: Kelsie Reeves - 4
Wheaton (Ill.)
Pts: Lauren Graham - 12
Reb: Lauren Graham - 10
Ast: Brooke Olson - 5

Team Stats

Simpson
Wheaton (Ill.)

Field Goals

(19-54)
(20-64)

Field Goal %

35.2%
31.3%

Rebounds

39
43

Assists

11
14

Turnovers

15
13

Pts off Turnovers

13
10

2nd Chance Pts

8
7

Pts in the Paint

20
26

Fastbreak Pts

2
10

Bench Pts

23
12
full stats
More news about: Wheaton (Ill.)
Dec 10, 2011

Wheaton, Ill. – The Simpson College women's basketball team used a 10-2 run in the final three minutes to rally and defeat Wheaton College on Saturday afternoon, 56-52. Wheaton is now 4-4 on the year, while Simpson improves to 7-2. The Thunder will be off until December 28-29 with a pair of games at Southwestern University's tournament in Georgetown, Texas.

Simpson led the Thunder 5-4; just three minutes into the game when the Thunder put together a 10-4 run to take a 14-9 lead with 9:30 left in the first half. The Storm regained the lead at 21-20 with 2:50 left before halftime, but Wheaton closed the opening half with an 8-2 run to hold a 28-23 lead at halftime.

In the second half, Simpson slowly chipped away at Wheaton's lead until the Storm took a 40-39 advantage with 10 minutes left in regulation. A three-pointer by Laura Karsten and a basket by Lindsey Brenneman on Wheaton's next two possessions built the hosts lead back up to 44-40. Wheaton still had a four-point lead at 50-46 with 2:45 left in the game when a three-pointer by Simpson's Jamie Elbert sparked the Storm's 10-2 run to close the game that would give the guests the 56-52 win.

Freshman Lauren Graham registered her first collegiate "double-double" with 12 points and 10 rebounds, also adding two blocked shots. Elisabeth Potts scored 11 points, with five rebounds. Brenneman scored nine points, with six rebounds and Karsten added eight points, with four assists and four rebounds. Junior Brooke Olson distributed a game-high four assists. Sophomore Maris Hovee grabbed nine rebounds, with five blocked shots.

Kate Nielsen led Simpson with 15 points and seven rebounds.Stacey Schutjer and Jamie Elbert each scored 11 points for the guests.

Wheaton posted a 31.3% (20-64) field goal percentage, with 17.6% (3-17) from behind the three-point arc and 81.8% (9-11) at the free throw line. Simpson shot 35.2% (19-54) from the field, with 31.6% (6-19) from three-point range and 75% (12-16) at the free throw line. Wheaton out-rebounded the Storm 43-39, with a 14-9 edge for the hosts on the offensive glass.