Nielsen, Swain named Student-Athletes of the Month

Senior women's basketball player Kate Nielsen and sophomore men's basketball player Charles Swain put up big numbers on the court on the way to earning Simpson Student-Athlete of the Month honors for December 2012.

Kate Nielsen, basketball
A senior forward from Urbandale, Iowa (Johnston HS), Nielsen dominated the competition during the month of December, averaging a double-double with more than 21 points and 12 rebounds in four games. She scored a career-high 35 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in a narrow 62-60 loss to No. 7 Amherst at the Land of Magic Classic in Daytona Beach on Dec. 28. Her 35 points tied for the fifth-most in Simpson history and were the most since 1996. Through the end of the month, she had already been named IIAC Athlete and Women's Basketball Player of the Week twice.

Charles Swain, basketball
A sophomore shooting guard from Austin, Texas (Summit Christian Academy), Swain led Simpson in scoring in six games during the month, averaging better than 15 points per game. His average shot up significantly after breaking out for a career-high 31 points in a 91-86 loss at Whitman on Dec. 20. His scoring performance was the most by a Simpson player since 2010. He went on to earn IIAC Athlete and Men's Basketball Player of the Week honors for the period ending Sunday, Dec. 23.