The Simpson Storm women’s basketball team opened up the American Rivers Conference Tournament Semifinal game against Luther with a 20-0 run Thursday evening and never looked back as they advanced to the Tournament Championship game for the second straight year after a 106-75 win as heard live on 94.3 KNIA.

The Storm built their big lead in the first quarter to 30-16, only to see Luther go on a mini-run themselves in the second quarter to get the deficit down to 14, only to see the Storm go on another 23-0 run before halftime to build a 69-34 lead at halftime, setting a school record for most points scored in a single half.

The Storm traded with the Norse in the third quarter to lead 89-54, and were able to empty the bench in the fourth quarter after crossing the century mark to rest the starters for tomorrow afternoon. Assistant Coach Moran Lonning tells KNIA Sports the Storm have been playing their best basketball of the season and improving every game, and there is still further to go with this squad.

“I think our team is really selfless, and I think we have tasted bits of how special this team can be. But we have to keep being this selfless team, each individual just needs to keep controlling what they can control, and keep bringing it every single night, and hopefully we can meet that potential that I think we’ve all seen glimpses of.”

Simpson improves to 24-1 overall, and will host Wartburg tomorrow afternoon in the conference championship game.