STORM LAKE, Iowa (Jan. 4, 2023) - The Buena Vista women's basketball team took the floor for the first time in nearly three weeks as it hosted Simpson College on Wednesday evening, but the Beavers came up short as the Storm closed the game on a 9-2 run to squeak out a 78-71 victory.

Sophomore McKenna Cone nailed a three-pointer from the corner to tie the game up at 69-69 with two minutes to play. The Storm led 71-69 and then got a big three-point make of their own with 17 seconds left to extend the cushion to five.  Lindsey Anhalt kept BVU close with a quick layup to pull within three, but the Storm converted all four free-throws down the stretch to close out the game.

Simpson held a slim 19-17 lead after the first quarter and was in front 40-32 at the break. BVU used a 20-point third quarter and cut its deficit down to 56-52 heading to the final frame.

Cone finished with 18 points to lead the Beavers on 8-of-19 shooting. Anhalt added a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds as Danika Demers also hit double figures with 10 points. Hannah Whitver hauled in a team-leading eight rebounds and also had a pair of steals.

As a team, the Beavers finished at 36.9 percent shooting from the field while making 6-of-18 from long range. It had another solid effort at the free-throw line by going 17-of-19 with senior Vanessa Hamlett sinking all seven of her attempts.

Haley Rasmussen posted 18 points with Molly Luttmer adding 17 to pace the Storm (6-7, 1-3 A-R-C). Both players were each aided by four three-point makes as Simpson finished 9-of-29 from beyond the arc. Overall, the Storm shot 44 percent from the field and made 11-of-13 at the stripe.

Buena Vista is now 6-7 overall (1-4 A-R-C) and goes on the road to Coe College this Saturday for a 2 p.m. tip-off with the Kohawks.