Posted: Jan 12, 2016

Storm women welcome Loras for IIAC home opener

INDIANOLA, Iowa - The Simpson women's basketball team hosts Loras in its Iowa Conference home opener Wednesday, Jan. 13. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. from Cowles Fieldhouse.

Game Setup
Matchup: Loras (9-4, 2-0 IIAC) at Simpson (8-5, 1-1 IIAC)
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 13
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Cowles Fieldhouse - Indianola, Iowa

Live Coverage
Live Video: SimpsonAthletics.com
Live Stats: SimpsonAthletics.com

Last Time Out
Noreen Morrow scored a career-high 21 points and pulled down 11 rebounds as Simpson beat Coe 75-71 on Saturday, Jan. 9. Mackenzie Haupt scored 10 of her 14 points in the second half and Maddie Bosworth hit four free throws down the stretch to hold of the charging Kohawks.

A look at Loras
The Duhawks are 9-4 and 2-0 in the Iowa Conference following a last-second, 73-71 win against Buena Vista on Saturday. Loras comes into Wednesday's game riding a five-game winning streak, which includes a signature win over No. 7 Washington-St. Louis. Kaitlin Phillips (12.8 ppg) and Terese McMahon (12.7 ppg) lead the team in scoring, but 6-2 forward Lori Obendorf averages a double-double with 10.3 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. She leads the IIAC in rebounding and blocked shots (3.4).

The all-time series
Wednesday marks the 66th meeting in the all-time series, which Simpson leads 44-21. Loras has had the upper hand recently, winning four in a row against the Storm including a 70-65 triumph at Cowles Fieldhouse last season. The Storm are 24-7 at home against Loras.

TOP 5 STORM STORYLINES

1. Storm look to remain perfect at home
Simpson is a perfect 3-0 at Cowles Fieldhouse this season, outscoring opponents by 12 points per game. The Storm shoot from beyond the 3-point arc much better at home, making 9.3 per game and shooting 35.4 percent compared to 5.1 and 29.5 percent in all other games. Simpson is also better on defense, forcing opponents into 19 turnovers per game at home compared to 17 in all other games.

2. Turning it around
The Storm got off to a slow start in 2015-16, going just 1-3 in the first four games. Since then, the Storm are 7-2 while holding opponents to just 62.8 points per game. Simpson is shooting 42.5 percent from the field during the stretch, compared to 39.2 to start the season.

3. Storm feature top thieves in the leauge
Simpson boasts three of the top defensive players in the league in terms of steals. Senior guard Mackenzie Haupt is tied for the IIAC lead with 32 steals in eight games, six more than teammates Maddie Bosworth and Whitney Van Wyk, who are tied for fourth with 26 apiece. Haupt has already surpassed her previous career-high in steals (30), set last season.

4. Morrow progressing in sophomore campaign
After seeing limited action during an injury-plagued freshman season, sophomore Noreen Morrow has provided a much-needed post presence for the Storm in 2015-16. The 6-2 center is averaging 11.2 points per game (second on the team) and a team-high 6.3 rebounds. She has three double-doubles on the season, and is averaging 14.6 points and eight rebounds over the last five games. She and Katie Ahrenholtz are the top two shooters in the IIAC in terms of field goal percentage. Ahrenholtz leads (58.7 percent) followed by Morrow (58.2 percent).

5. Mauro continues to climb 3-point list
Morgan Mauro is making her way up Simpson's career 3-point list. The senior is currently fourth all-time with 146 3s, just seven shy of tying Tiffany Whitsell (1999-03) for third. She has 23 3s through 13 games this season, currently seventh in the IIAC. Amy Hamilton (2007-11) holds Simpson's career record with 241 3s, followed by Carlie Beals (2004-008) with 236.

The coach
Brian Niemuth is in his 29th season as Simpson's head coach, where he is 543-223. He has won 11 IIAC Championships and has led his team to the NCAA Tournament 11 times. The seven-time IIAC Coach of the Year entered the season ranked 10th among active Division III coaches in wins. He is the winningest coach in IIAC history with 329 victories.

Up next
Simpson hosts Dubuque on Saturday, Jan. 16. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.