WBB Preview: Storm vs. Dubuque, 1.11.17

For the second time in less than a week the Simpson women's basketball team travels to Dubuque, Iowa for an Iowa Conference clash, this time to face the Dubuque Spartans from McCormick Gymnasium. The game will air live on www.dbq.edu. Start time is set for 6 p.m.

GAME SETUP
Dubuque (6-8, 2-3 IIAC) comes into Wednesday's contest winner in three of its last four contests despite a 77-54 setback against No. 9 Wartburg last Saturday. Simpson (4-9, 1-3 IIAC) couldn't string together a second-straight win after a 71-66 setback at Loras on Saturday. 

GAME DAY COVERAGE
Live Video: www.DBQ.edu

THE COACHES
Simpson—Brian Niemuth, 554-238 at Simpson (30th season)
Dubuque—Mark Noll, 133-117 at Dubuque (10th season)

PROJECTED STARTERS
Simpson—Noreen Morrow (15.9 ppg/9.0 rpg), Janey Botkins (7.2 ppg/0.6 rpg/1.1 apg), Megan Lankford (6.2 ppg/1.9 rpg/2.8 apg), Britney Boland (5.9 ppg/5.9 rpg /2.3 apg), Rachel Freland (3.3 ppg /1.7 rpg)
Dubuque—Emily Brinker (15.0 ppg/5.8 rpg/1.4 apg), Abbey Meyer (9.9 ppg/3.6 rpg/3.6 apg), Allie Biermeier (7.4 ppg/2.3 rpg), Madison Boer (7.2 ppg/2.3 rpg/1.2 apg), Morgan Boer (5.3 ppg/4.5 rpg)

5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
1. Simpson and Dubuque meet for the 74th time in a series that began in 1980-81 … Simpson leads the all-time series 66-7 and actually holds a better record against the Spartans on the road (31-2) than at home (31-5) … three of Dubuque's seven wins in the series have come in the last four years, including a season-sweep of the Storm in 2014-15 … the Storm won both meetings last season, 80-53 at home on Jan. 16 and 76-62 at Dubuque on Jan. 30.

2. The Spartans and 10th-year head coach Mark Noll have been led by the play of senior guard Emily Brinker, who averages a team-best 15 ppg … Brinker and the rest of the Spartans rely on scoring inside the arc as Dubuque ranks last in the Iowa Conference in 3-pointers made (51), attempted (215) and percentage (23.7).

3. After being held to just five points in the previous two games combined, junior post Noreen Morrow returned to form with 23 points and nine rebounds in Simpson's 71-66 loss to Loras on Saturday … she ranks fourth in the IIAC in scoring (15.9 ppg), third in rebounding (9.0 rpg) and fourth in field goal percentage (53.4).

4. The Storm's go-to player in the clutch this season has been senior point guard, Megan Lankford. Lankford has scored a team-high 36 points in the final five minutes of games this season, shooting 50 percent from the field and better than 84 percent from the free throw line … Ellen Gallagher is second on the team with 13 points in the final five minutes.

5. Wednesday's game features two of the worst rebounding teams in the Iowa Conference. Dubuque averages 37.8 rebounds per game with a margin of -4.3 (7th in the IIAC) while the Storm average 37.5 rebounds per game with a margin of -5.8 (9th in the IIAC).