It was Senior Day for the Simpson basketball teams as they swept Dubuque Saturday. The women’s team won 72-65 and the men won 79-66.

There were 20 lead changes in the women’s game. Despite being 4-18 and 2-11 overall, Dubuque competed hard with the Storm for all 40 minutes. It was a back and forth beginning to the game led by Ellie Andrew who had eight first quarter points. For Dubuque, they were able to shoot the ball from three well early, while Simpson was driving to the basket and finishing with layups.

The energy didn’t diminish in the second quarter as Kiera McCormick and Maddox DeVault were able to hit mid-range jumpers. McCormick finished with nine first half points while Dubuque’s Christina Simonetti had 12.

In the second half, Simpson locked in on defense and forced numerous Spartan turnovers. DeVault continued her successful night with six more in the third quarter.

Simpson had the six-point lead heading into the fourth as both teams caught fire with a combined 41 points in the frame. Taylor Hansen hit an early three followed by a pair of threes from Spartan Guard Karsyn Pankonen. Down the stretch, Dubuque made enough shots to stay within shouting distance but Maddox DeVault iced the game from the free throw line and finishing with 24 points.

In the men’s game, Simpson hit a rut early and couldn’t buy a basket in the game’s first ten minutes. Senior Levi Gurwell ended the Storm drought by hitting his first of three three-pointers in the contest. On the Dubuque side, they were able to get in the paint more often than the Storm with duo of Grady Thompson and Jacob Williams. Simpson finally struck lightning in the first half by going on a 15-2 run in the final minutes. Gurwell led the Storm with ten first half points but played limited time due to foul trouble in the second half.

Simpson was able to maintain a distance of roughly 8-13 points throughout the majority of the second half and had big days from Sophomore Calix Calhill and Senior Bo Huston as both players had over 20 points on their own. A 79-66 victory for the Simpson men kept the Storm alive for the sixth seed for the American Rivers Conference Tournament.

Both teams welcome Wartburg to town on Wednesday.