The Simpson Storm men’s and women’s basketball teams dropped a pair of games Saturday afternoon to the University of Dubuque Spartans, 77-73 in the women’s game and 86-74 in the men’s.

In the women’s contest the Storm and Spartans would battle through a bumpy turnover fiesta of a game committing a combined 53 turnovers. Despite the miscues the Storm would command most of the game leading 43-34 at half. In the third quarter, Simpson would find their rhythm offensively taking a 15 point lead into the fourth quarter. The turnover bug would find the Storm once again as Simpson would commit four consecutive turnovers to help Dubuque back into the contest on a 12-0 run to start the fourth quarter. The Spartans would take the opportunity to grab the momentum and outscore the Storm 24-5 in the final quarter to finish off the four point come from behind win. 

Simpson was led by Anna Wanek with 21 points, while Dubuque countered with Tabria Thomas and her 21 points for the Spartans. The loss snaps the Storm’s six game win streak as they will now look to get back to their winning ways with a tough road matchup in Pella on Wednesday when they take on the Central Dutch. 

In the Men’s contest Dubuque would come out firing shooting just over 60% from the field in the first half led by Jaylin McCants and his 21 first half points. Simpson would trail Dubuque at the break 41-29 before slowly and methodically coming back in the second half. Easton Darling would lead the Storm with 19 points, 13 coming in the second half alongside Trent Williamson’s 10 second half points that would help the Storm come within striking distance. Jaylin McCants and his game high 35 points would prove to be too much as the Storm would fall for the second straight game, 86-74.

Next up for the Storm men, like the women they will try to regroup and get ready to take on the Central Dutch in Pella on Wednesday.