Nielsen earns 7th IIAC Player of the Week award
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – After a one-week hiatus, Kate Nielsen made her return as the top women's basketball player in the Iowa Conference.
Nielsen earned Iowa Conference Player of the Week honors for the period ending Sunday, Feb. 10, the league office announced Monday. The award is her seventh this season and gives her five of the last six after sweeping the month of January.
Nielsen, a senior forward from Urbandale, Iowa, averaged 24 points and 6 rebounds and shot 61.3 percent (19-for-31) from the field as the Storm clinched the Iowa Conference Championship and gave head coach Brian Niemuth career win No. 500 in wins over Wartburg and Loras.
Nielsen scored 27 points on 11 of 17 shooting in a 67-59 win over Wartburg on Wednesday, Feb. 6, clinching the league title. She also pulled down seven boards and made three steals. In a 75-62 win over Loras on Feb. 9, she posted 21 points, five rebounds and three steals as Niemuth earned his 500th career victory, becoming only the 20th coach in NCAA Division III history to reach the milestone.
With two regular season games remaining, Nielsen has 480 points – just 20 shy of becoming the sixth player in Simpson history to reach 500 in a single season.
Nielsen and the No. 7 Storm (22-1, 12-0 Iowa Conference) welcome Dubuque to Cowles Fieldhouse for Senior Recognition Night on Wednesday, Feb. 13. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
Nielsen's Dominance of the IIAC Player of the Week award
| Date | Winner | School |
| 11/18 | Kate Nielsen | Simpson |
| 11/25 | Kate Nielsen | Simpson |
| 12/2 | Susan Kies | Buena Vista |
| 12/9 | Taylor Johnson | Luther |
| 12/16 | Kayla Waskow | Coe |
| 12/23 | Taylor Johson | Luther |
| 1/6 | Kate Nielsen | Simpson |
| 1/13 | Kate Nielsen | Simpson |
| 1/20 | Kate Nielsen | Simpson |
| 1/27 | Kate Nielsen | Simpson |
| 2/3 | Mollie Whiting | Dubuque |
| 2/10 | Kate Nielsen | Simpson |
