La Crosse, Wis. — Simpson (4-0) defeated Wis.-La Crosse (2-2) 77-73 to win the Holiday Inn Express Eagle Thanksgiving Classic Nov. 26 in La Crosse. La Crosse, which was ranked No. 23 in the preseason D3hoops.com Top 25 poll led 30-29 at halftime. The game was tied twice early on in the second half, with the Eagles leading 45-44 with 13:56 to go in the game. The Storm outscored La Crosse 13-6 over the next four minutes to take a six-point lead.

Simpson, who was ranked No. 22 in the preseason USA Today/WBCA preseason Top 25 poll, led 66-57 with 4:06 remaining, but the Eagles rallied, closing to 74-69 on a Karrie Lamers three-pointer with 24 seconds to go. Simpson made 3-of-4 free throw attempts in the final 17 seconds to secure the victory.

Simpson shot 72.7% (16-of-22) in the second half. Katelyn Whiton led all scorers with 29 points. Whiton was 13-of-17 (9-of-11 in the second half) from the field and at one point in the second half, the 5-10 forward scored nine straight Storm points. Simpson center Ashley Katch tied her career highs with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Her nine blocks were one away from her own school record for most blocks in a game. Katch was 7-of-7 from the field. Tessa Van Oosbree added 10 for the Storm.

La Crosse was led by Katy Searing and Mackenzie Hunter who each scored 13 points. Nicole Palmer had 12 for the Eagles. Simpson opens Iowa Conference play Tuesday night when the Storm host Loras in a 6 p.m. tip-off.

At La Crosse, WI (Mitchell Hall)

SIMPSON COLLEGE 77, UW-LA CROSSE 73

SIMPSON COLLEGE (4-0) WHITON, Katelyn 13-17 3-3 29; KATCH, Ashley 7-7 3-4 17; VAN OOSBREE, Tessa 3-4 4-8 10; FISCHBACH, Jayna 2-3 0-0 4; BEALS, Carlie 1-4 2-4 4; LARSON, Carrie 1-6 1-1 4; SMITH, Emily 1-4 2-2 4; FRANKER, Whitney 1-4 0-0 3; MONTAGUE, Laura 0-2 2-2 2; KUBERSKI, Jemi 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-51 17-24 77.

UW-LA CROSSE (2-2) Searing, Katy 5-10 3-4 13; Hunter, Mackenzie 6-13 0-0 13; Palmer, Nicole 4-11 1-2 12; Wagner, Ashley 4-9 0-0 8; Johnson, Abby 4-10 0-0 8; Lamers, Karrie 2-5 1-2 6; Aspenson, Sam 2-3 2-3 6; Wahl, Lindsay 0-5 5-6 5; Waldvogel, Amanda 1-1 0-0 2; Stevens, Mandy 0-1 0-0 0; Onopa, Carolyn 0-1 0-0 0; Magee, Mallory 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 28-70 12-17 73.

Simpson College...............   29   48  -   77
UW-La Crosse..................   30   43  -   73
3-point goals-Simpson College 2-11 (FRANKER, Whitney 1-3; LARSON, Carrie 1-1; VAN OOSBREE, Tessa 0-1; FISCHBACH, Jayna 0-1; BEALS, Carlie 0-3; SMITH, Emily 0-1; MONTAGUE, Laura 0-1), UW-La Crosse 5-11 (Palmer, Nicole 3-6) Lamers, Karrie 1-1; Hunter, Mackenzie 1-2; Onopa, Carolyn 0-1; Wagner, Ashley 0-1). Fouled out--Simpson College-None, UW-La Crosse-None. Rebounds-Simpson College 36 (KATCH, Ashley 11), UW-La Crosse 35 (Wagner, Ashley 7; Searing, Katy 7). Assists-Simpson College 15 (MONTAGUE, Laura 3; SMITH, Emily 3), UW-La Crosse 18 (Searing, Katy 6). Total fouls-Simpson College 12, UW-La Crosse 20.