CEDAR RAPIDS – After an IIAC opening let down at Buena Vista on Wednesday, both the men’s and women’s basketball teams responded with their first conference at Coe on Saturday.

Women’s Game: Simpson (8-5, 1-1) 75, Coe 71 (9-4, 0-2)

After averaging 1.8 points per game last year, nobody would have expected Noreen Morrow to be playing the type of stellar basketball she has so far this season.

That improvement didn’t show any signs of dropping off on Saturday as the sophomore scored a career-high 21 points to go with 10 rebounds as Simpson held off Coe’s late push to snag a key road-conference win.

The Storm led for nearly the entire game until the Kohawks grabbed a 61-60 lead with just over six minutes remaining in the game. Simpson responded with an 8-0 run to go up 68-61, but Coe would rally within two once more at 71-69 with just over a minute remaining.

Maddie Bosworth hit all four of her free throws down the stretch to repel the Coe rally on her way to 13 points.

Mackenzie Haupt scored 14 points on 5 of 11 from the floor, reflecting Simpson’s blistering hot 28 of 56 shooting day.

Aleena Hobbs torched Simpson in Indianola last year and she did so once again, scoring 24 points to lead Coe.

Morrow now has three double-doubles on the season.

Men’s Game: Simpson (8-5, 1-1) 69, Coe (5-8, 0-2)

The Coe men’s team is down this year and Simpson jumped all over that, defeating the Kohawks on the road for the first time in six trips.

After trailing 27-20 towards the end of the first half, Simpson went on a 17-8 run to claim a 37-35 lead at the break.

The Storm carried that momentum into the second half, leading by as many as 13 points on their way to a comfortable six-point win.

Four players had double-digit nights in points and nearly two posted double-doubles, with DJ Dafney turning a 10 point, 10 rebound double-double.

Sam Amsbaugh posted a quiet eight point and 10 rebound day although Austin Turner was the big man offensively, scoring 17 points to lead the attack.

Coe poured in 13 points and got 24 points from Matt Vonderhaar in the loss.

Coming up

The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference home opener is on Wednesday against Loras, beginning with the women at 6 p.m.