IIAC Tournament Preview: Simpson vs. Coe

The sixth-seeded Simpson women's basketball team travels to third-seeded Coe tonight for the first round of the Iowa Conference Tournament. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Eby Fieldhouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

After going 2-4 in the month of February, the Storm (16-9, 6-8) find themselves as the No. 6 seed for the first time in the 16-year history of the tournament. The Kohawks (17-8, 10-4) fell to the No. 3 seed after losing a random draw with Luther. Coe tied for second in the final regular season standings and Simpson finished tied for fifth with Wartburg.

COVERAGE

Coe will provide live video streaming for the game, accompanied by live stats courtesy of StretchInternet.

MATCHUP

2014-15 Coe Kohawks
Roster | Head Coach Randi Peterson (Henderson) | Schedule | Stats
Record: 17-8 overall, 10-4 Iowa Conference
Last Game: beat Buena Vista 79-62

2014-15 Simpson Storm
Roster | Head Coach Brian Niemuth | Schedule | Stats
Record: 16-9 overall, 6-8 Iowa Conference
Last Game: lost to Loras 70-65 (ot)

WEBSITES/SOCIAL MEDIA

Coe: CoeAthletics.com | @CoeAthletics
Simpson: SimpsonAthletics.com | @StormSports

IIAC TOURNAMENT

The winner of the Simpson/Coe matchup will travel to face No. 2-seed Luther on Thursday, Feb. 26. The other first round game pits No. 5-seed Wartburg at No. 4-seed Loras. The winner of that game travels to No. 1-seed Dubuque on Thursday. Thursday's semifinals winners meet Saturday, Feb. 28 at the higher seed. The IIAC Tournament champion receives the conference's automatic berth in the 2015 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship.

SIMPSON IN THE IIAC TOURNAMENT

Simpson has more wins in the IIAC Tournament than any other team in the field, going 26-8 since the tournament began in 2000. The Storm are 7-1 in first round games but just 2-5 on the road. Tonight marks Simpson's first game in tournament history as the No. 6 seed.

THE SERIES WITH COE

Tonight marks the 50th meeting between the two teams with Simpson holding a 40-9 edge in the series. Coe has won the last three meetings, though, including both this season (75-69 at Coe on Jan. 7; 70-55 at Simpson on Feb. 18). Simpson is 3-2 against Coe in the IIAC Tournament, the last meeting coming in the 2012 IIAC Tournament Championship game. In that game, second-seeded Coe upset top-seeded Simpson 79-59 in Indianola.

COE AT A GLANCE

The most accurate 3-point shooting team in the Iowa Conference, Coe won 4 of 5 to close the regular season and climb to second in the league standings. Coe's 3-point shooting prowess was on full display against Simpson in the regular season, as the Kohawks went 9-for-14 from beyond the arch in a 70-55 win on Feb. 18. Mickey Hansche went 5-for-7 in that game and closed the season as the conference leader in made 3s (77) and 3-point percentage (46.1). Her 13.4 ppg were second on the team to Aleena Hobbs (13.5).

SIMPSON AT A GLANCE

After averaging just 5.2 points in her first two seasons, MacKenzie Haupt is having a breakout season in 2014-15. The junior averages a team-high 10.6 ppg ... sophomore transfer Britney Boland has been a welcome addition to the Storm's lineup, pulling down a team-best 5.4 rpg to go along with 8 ppg ... junior reserve Maddie Bosworth has provided a big lift off the bench late in the season. She averaged 11 ppg over the final three games and erupted for a season-high 25 in the Storm's 88-81 overtime win over Luther on Jan. 21 ... Simpson clinched its 18th consecutive winning season under head coach Brian Niemuth in 2014-15. The last time the team finished below .500 was in 1996-97 (11-14).