Storm sink Vikings, sweep Simpson Classic

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by Brock Borgeson, Sports Editor

At 5-foot-5-inches, if you were to say senior guard Maddie Bosworth had a double-double it would be in points and assists.

Last night you would have been correct as Bosworth came one dime short of the Simpson single-game record for assists.

Today in a 84-67 win over Grand View (4-4) in the Simpson Classic, you would have been wrong, as Bosworth posted a 13-point, 10 rebound night on her way to her second-straight double-double and the honor as MVP for the tournament.

“She deserved the MVP,” head coach Brian Niemuth said. “She can do so many things. She can score from three, she can penetrate, she can pull up. She gives us our energy.”

The Storm (3-3) were the only team in the four-team classic to go 2-0 on the weekend as rival Buena Vista fell handily to Iowa Wesleyan earlier on Saturday, giving both squads a 1-1 finish for the classic.

Grand View went 0-2 in Indianola this weekend.

Whitney Van Wyk drilled three three-pointers for the second straight game on her way to a 13-point performance. She was Simpson’s other selection to the all-tournament squad.

“[Mackenzie] Haupt, Whitney and Morgan Mauro are rotated at the two spot and they give us great senior leadership,” Niemuth said.

Simpson led by as many as 27 and trailed only once, less than two minutes into the first quarter as the Storm throttled the Vikings by shooting 49.2 percent (29 of 59) overall, 11 of 22 from three-point range.

The Storm had five players in double-figures in scoring. Haupt added 13 and Katie Ahrenholz provided a jolt down the stretch with 12 points off the bench in 17 minutes of play.

“Everyone that played today stepped up,” Niemuth said. “I kind of had a light bulb moment last night and thought – we have to substitute people in according to their strengths.”

That epiphany played into a starting lineup decision for Niemuth, who went with senior Annie Gullickson at the post in place of Noreen Morrow who had started every game up to Saturday’s ball game.

The decision stemmed from an effort to contain Grand View’s best player, Maddie Westergard, who is an athletic center.

Westergard scored a game-high 22 points although Simpson only allowed 17 points to the rest of Grand View’s starting lineup.

“Morrow was all-in [about the decision],” Niemuth said. “That unselfishness is really something that will make this team good.”

The Storm led 14-8 after the first quarter but really pounced on the Vikings in the second frame, outscoring Grand View 27-16 to create a 17-point edge at the half.

Simpson outscored opponents 46-19 in the second quarter on the weekend.

The rest of the week will be devoted to rest and practice as Simpson gears up for the Washington University McWilliams Classic in St. Louis next weekend.

Nationally ranked UW-Lutheran will be Simpson’s first opponent, coming up at 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4.