INDIANOLA, Iowa - The Luther women's basketball team couldn't catch Simpson in the 76-63 loss on Saturday. Three players were in double-digits for the Norse including Haylie Strum, Kailey Jones and Kate Hosking. With the loss Luther is 8-7 overall and 3-3 in the American Rivers Conference. 

The Storm started the game on a 10-0 run before Hosking got the Norse on the board with a jumper with 7:24 left in the first quarter. Simpson continued to keep their distance from Luther extending their lead. The Norse would cut the lead down to six in the final 31 seconds of the quarter with a bucket from Lizzie Kauls in the paint. Simspon have the lead at the end of the quarter 22-14. 

In the second quarter the Storm advanced their lead to their largest of the game of 17 with 2:43 remaining in the half. Jones used a layup in the final seconds to pull within 14 down 41-27 heading into the locker room. 

Midway through the third, Isabel Herda drove inside for the layup and go to the line for a three-point play. She sink the fre throw putting the Norse within striking distance down six at 44-38. Once again Simpson would put their lead in double-digits at 52-42 with one quarter to play. 

Just eight seconds into the quarter Megan Miller hit a jumper inside the paint cutting the Simpson lead down to single digits. However, the Storm surged while shooting 60% from the field, 57.14% from the arc and perfect at the line to defeat the Norse 76-63.

Simpson is now 9-6 overall and 4-2 in conference play. 

Luther had more steals and blocks than Simpson with ten and five. The Norse scored 32 points in the paint. 

TOP NORSE

• Strum led the team with 14 points, eight rebounds and four steals. 
• Jones recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 13 points and 17 rebounds. She also had three steals. 
• Hosking had 10 points. 

UP NEXT
Luther continues its stretch of games on the road at Loras College on Wednesday, Jan. 10 at 5:30 p.m. in Dubuque, Iowa.