Women's basketball hosts Wis.-Platteville on Saturday
The Simpson women's basketball team tries to win for the fourth time in the last five games when it hosts Wis.-Platteville at Cowles Fieldhouse on Saturday, Dec. 12. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
The Storm are 4-4 overall after going 1-1 at the Washington-St. Louis McWilliams Classic last weekend. Simpson beat a good Wisconsin Lutheran team 62-60 in the first round before falling to No. 11 Washington-St. Louis 74-49 in the title game. Simpson trailed by just five at halftime before going cold in the second half. Maddie Bosworth and Katie Ahrenholtz were named to the all-tournament team.
A look at the Pioneers: Wis.-Platteville comes into tonight's game with a 2-6 record after a 76-69 loss to Elmhurst on Wednesday, Dec. 9. The Pioneers beat IIAC-foe Dubuque 79-67 in overtime on Dec. 5, the team's first win since a 75-51 triumph over Silver Lake on Nov. 20. Junior center Elisa Bilderback - a Wartburg transfer - leads the team with 13.4 ppg and ranks second with 5.5 rpg. Classmate Morgan Horstman is the team's leading rebounder (5.9 rpg) and averages 10.5 ppg. The Pioneers are picked to finish eighth in the WIAC after sixth-year head coach Megan Wilson lost all five starters from last year's team that went 15-11 and hosted the playoff game in program history.
Early season turnaround: After a slow start to the season, Simpson is righting in the ship. The Storm started the year 1-3, but have won 3 of their last 4. Simpson is holding opponents to just 63.5 ppg during the stretch and is shooting 45 percent from the field.
Bosworth comes into her own: One of the biggest reasons for the Storm's recent turnaround has been the play of senior point guard, Maddie Bosworth. She is averaging a team-high 12.3 ppg and has 19 assists to just nine turnovers in the last four games. She had just 12 assists and 12 turnovers in the first four games. Bosworth earned MVP honors at the Simpson Classic after posting back-to-back double-doubles.
Second quarter push: The Storm have been especially tough in the second quarter of games lately. In winning 3 of the last 4, Simpson has outscored opponents 72-49 in the second quarter, compared to losing the second quarter 63-53 in the first four games.
Thief: Mackenzie Haupt is the IIAC's leader with 23 steals in eight games. Haupt - who recently reached the 500-point mark in her career - is just seven steals away from her previous career-high of 30 set in 2014-15.
Mauro climbs 3-point list: Morgan Mauro is making her way up Simpson's career 3-point list. The senior is currently fourth all-time with 141 3s, just 12 shy of tying Tiffany Whitsell (1999-03) for third. She has 18 through eight games this season, currently fifth in the IIAC. Amy Hamilton (2007-11) holds Simpson's career record with 241 3s, followed by Carlie Beals (2004-008) with 236.
