Shooting Stars

Haley Rasmussen ’25 (left) and Molly Lutmer ’25 (right) provided a lethal 1-2 shooting force this season. Game-in, game-out, their relentless assault of three-pointers often overwhelmed the opposition and kept the Storm rolling to a 15-win season and third place conference finish.

“There were times when they were both feeling it and there wasn’t anything the other team could do to stop them,” said Brian Niemuth, head women’s basketball coach. “I just had to sit there and remind myself to enjoy it — because this isn’t going to happen again.”

Rasmussen drained a school-record 75 treys to top the league, while shooting a remarkable 51.7 percent from that range to lead all NCAA divisions. Lutmer added 70 three-pointers and was the league’s second-best scorer with 19.1 points per game. Both eclipsed 1,000 career points and leave Simpson among the top five in program history for made three-pointers.

Niemuth hasn’t seen anything like it in his 38 seasons coaching Simpson.

“This was a generational thing to have two shooters like Haley and Molly. I don’t think I’ve had a pair that was able to make that high of a percentage with such a high volume of three-point attempts. They are a unique tandem.”

Despite their dominant play, Lutmer and Rasmussen were anything but showy on the court. Both are extremely competitive, but very even-keeled in their demeanor — preferring to let their games do the talking.

“I don’t know if I said a word my freshman year,” said Rasmussen. “But over these last four years, I’ve definitely grown in my leadership, confidence and finding my voice.”

The shooting stars didn’t meet until sophomore season when Lutmer transferred into the program. They roomed together and became close friends on and off the court, while quickly gaining a deep appreciation for each other’s basketball gifts.

“My first impression coming in was she [Haley] just seemed like a poised, confident player —very much a leader by example,” said Lutmer. “I have always respected her and am just grateful to have shared the court with Haley.”

The feelings are mutual. “Molly was always our go-to person,” said Rasmussen. “If I was kind of down on myself, I knew that she would be there to pick me up…we just had a connection that no one else had, it was really special.”

Trying to replace what they brought and meant to the program will be a tall task.

“I don’t think it will sink in until the first day of practice,” said Niemuth. That’s when it will hit me the hardest.”