CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The Coe College women's basketball team outlasted Simpson in the opening round of the A-R-C tournament with a 72-69 overtime victory on Tuesday night. The Kohawks led by two at the halftime break but a strong second half from the Storm forced the extra period. During the overtime frame, Coe got key buckets from Madeline Wilkins and Jamie Feldt to squeak out the victory. The win moves Coe to 16-10 overall and marks the first time the Kohawks have won a game in the league tournament since 2015-16.
 
Coe buckled down in the overtime period after the Kohawks and Storm battled back-and-forth for 40 minutes. After a handful of empty possessions, the Kohawks got an important bucket from Jamie Feldt, taking a two-point lead with 1:34 left in the overtime. Simpson answered with a pair of free throws to tie the game but junior guard Madeline Wilkins hit a crucial 3 to put the Kohawks back up three. Despite the slim lead, the Kohawks played tough defense and saw out the victory to advance in the tournament. 
 
It was a dominating effort from Kohawk twins Jamie Feldt and Jackie Feldt on Tuesday evening as the pair combined for 31 points. Jamie totaled 17 points, 10 rebounds, four steals, two blocks and one assist while Jackie posted 14 points, 11 boards, six assists, five blocks and one steal. Wilkins also provided solid production for Coe, adding 11 points and two assists. 
 
Coe and Simpson both struggled equally in the opening quarter, combining for just five points in the first few minutes of the frame. The Storm held a slim 6-1 lead with 3:54 left in the frame but the Kohawks scored five of the final nine points of the quarter to cut the deficit to four. 
 
The teams awoke in the second quarter, as the game broke out into a frantic pace. Jackie Feldt opened the period with a 3 to immediately cut into the lead but Simpson answered with five-straight including a three of its own to push its advantage back to six points. Coe then began to click offensively, opening up a 16-4 outburst that lasted 4:16 which gave the Kohawks their first lead of the game at 25-19. 
 
Simpson finally put an end to Coe's run at the 3:11 mark of the second quarter, thanks to back-to-back baskets but a pair of Wilkins free throws kept the Kohawks in front by four. The Storm scored the final bucket of the half thanks to a runner in the lane from Claire Johnson as the clock expired, cutting the Coe lead to two at the break.  
 
The Kohawks opened the second half on fire, outscoring the Storm 9-5 in the first 1:36 to push their lead to six early on in the frame. Simpson slowed the run with a Kia Rasmussen 3-pointer, which then kickstarted an 11-5 outburst which allowed the Storm to tie the game at 41 with 2:55 left in the period. Simpson's run continued over the final few minutes of the third, using a 3 from Jenna Taylor and a handful of free throws to take a 3-point lead in the final period. 
Wilkins kicked off the final quarter with an important 3 to tie the game at 48, beginning a lengthy period in which the teams traded buckets for nearly half of the frame. Simpson slowly stretched a small lead around the half-way point of the frame but Coe scored eight-straight points to retake a one-point lead with 1:35 to play. Simpson, on the ensuing possession, converted a 3 of its own, thanks to Cassie Chubb, putting them infront 61-59 but a jumper from Jackie Feldt tied the score and sent the game to overtime. 
 
Up Next: The four-seeded Kohawks will return to action on Thursday evening when they travel to Waverly for a matchup with Wartburg at 7 p.m. in the semifinal of the A-R-C Tournament. 
 
#KohawkNation
Visit https://kohawkathletics.com/ for complete coverage of Coe College Athletics
Like Coe College Athletics on Facebook
Follow @CoeAthletics on Twitter
Follow @CoeAthletics on Instagram
Coe Athletics Mobile App - Android | iPhone