REDDING, Calif. - The women's basketball team continues to stay hot as they swept its two-game home stand to open up the New Year against Westcliff University, 55-46.  
 

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Let's Go Red Hawks!!!?????? pic.twitter.com/pOiReepbUy
— Simpson Red Hawks (@SimpsonRedHawks) January 21, 2024
 

Coming into the night the Red Hawks and Warriors were neck and neck in the Cal Pac standings as only one game separated these two teams. 

However, the Red Hawks extended its lead over the Warriors with a 55-46 victory and moved up a full game as they now sit 2.0 games behind the top playoff spot. 

Westcliff came out blazing as they drew the early 7-0 lead over Simpson. Dyani Del Castillo got the Red Hawks on the board and broke the Warrior run after hitting a layup in the paint. 

Itzel Torres followed Castillo's bucket up with a layup of her own to chip away Westcliff's lead. 

Nikki Thompson would score the final points of the first quarter for Simpson with a layup in the paint to trim Westcliff's lead to 15-6. 

The Red Hawks would get things going in the second quarter when Rachel Gafford converted on her first bucket of the night. 

A 16-3 Red Hawks run grabbed Simpson's first lead of the night and included buckets from Hannah Parsons, Nikki Thompson, Riley Wallen Itzel Torres, Anna Marshall, and Dyani Del Castillo. 

Simpson would enter the second half with a 24-20 lead over the Warriors before Itzel Torres drained a three-pointer for Simpson's first points of the second half. 

Thompson would close out the third quarter scoring with a layup to give her double-digit points for the game. 

The Red Hawks would double-up the Warriors as they outscored Westcliff 18-9 in the third quarter. 

Simpson was able to hold off the Westcliff comeback in the fourth quarter and hold onto the 55-46 victory. 

Nikki Thompson would have the hot hand and lead the Red Hawks with a team-high 16 points on the night. 

Itzel Torres and Dyani Del Castillo would have themselves a game as well by scoring 12 points each and a combined 14 rebounds on the game. 

With the win, Simpson now holds sole possession of the fourth playoff spot in a highly tight playoff race. 

The women's team will look to keep things rolling as they hit the road to take on Cal Maritime this Thursday at 5:30 PM. 
 

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
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