The Simpson women’s basketball team’s season came to an abrupt end Saturday night after a disappointing loss to Loras in Dubuque.

The Storm lost the conference championship game by a score of 62-77 to a team it had gone neck and neck with all season for the lead spot in the IIAC.

Two seniors, Christy Pierick and Amanda Pilcher, led the team, scoring 12 and 13 points respectively, but that didn’t prove to be enough against Loras’ four players who scored in double digits.

“Loras did a nice job of taking us out of what we did well,” said senior Amy Van Pelt. “Their defense stopped us from playing our game.”

The women had come off of a huge win Friday night against Wartburg in front of a home crowd which was the third win over the Knights this season.

Simpson defeated Wartburg, in the conference semifinal game 77-50, with three seniors scoring in double digits; Pierick, Pilcher and Van Pelt.

The Storm took a victory over the Spartans 84-71, with Pilcher getting a double double, totaling 14 rebounds and 19 points. Van Pelt, Pierick and senior Tiffany Whitsell, who all scored in double figures, again led the team.

“We played very well and the women did a nice job after having learned new plays one practice before their game,” said Head Coach Brian Niemuth.

The team will miss its seven seniors, whose goal was to enter the national tournament.

“The season didn’t end like we wanted considering our goal was to make it to the national tournament,” said Van Pelt. “But we still had a successful season and had fun while playing the game.”