WBB Preview: Simpson hosts Central at annual Play4Kay Game
The Simpson women's basketball team hosts rival Central at the annual Play4Kay Game on Wednesday, Feb. 7. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
Todd Guessford will have the call for Wednesday's video stream on SimpsonAthletics.com. Pre-game begins at 5:45. Andrew Swadner and Rick Wilson will describe the action on KNIA 1320 AM/95.3 FM and online at KNIAKRLS.com.
The Storm (12-10, 6-7) are looking to get back into the win column after going 0-2 on the road last week. Simpson lost to Luther 76-55 on Wednesday and fell to No. 2 Wartburg 88-68 on Saturday.
The Dutch (7-14, 2-10) fell to Loras 75-45 on Wednesday in Pella and lost to Dubuque 79-62 on Saturday in Dubuque.
In honor of the Play4Kay Initiative, both the women's and men's basketball team will hold silent auctions for signed pink basketballs. Additionally, donation buckets will be located at each ticket stand. Proceeds go to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.
THIS WEEK
Game #23: vs. Central (7-14, 2-10)
Wednesday, Feb. 8 — 6 p.m.
Cowles Fieldhouse — Indianola, Iowa
Live Video | Live Stats | Live Audio
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
1 — Sharpshooters: The Storm remain among the elite in Division III in shooting percentage (6th, 47.4) and assists per game (13th, 18.7). Individually, Noreen Morrow jumped two spots to seventh in shooting percentage (62.0) and Janey Botkins ranks 31st in 3-point percentage (44.6).
2 — Home Court Advantage: Simpson's home court advantage lives up to the hype with opponents scoring 14 points less (62.9) than they would on their own court. The Storm outscore opponents by 21 points in the fourth quarter in Cowles Fieldhouse while Simpson falls behind by 18 points in the fourth quarter on the road.
3 — Distribution Duo: Victoria Hazard and Claire Johnson have handed out 70-or-more assists each this season, reaching 78 and 77 assists, respectively. This marks the first time since Darrina Bledsoe (88) and Kelsie Reeves (82) in 2010-11 that two players have handed out at least 70 assists. The duo has combined to average 9.0 assists over the last six games.
4 — Shooting for 100: With two 3-pointers in last week's contests, sophomore guard Janey Botkins is one away from reaching 100 3-pointers in her career. She would be just the fifth player in school history with to reach reach the mark.
5 — Morrow's Place in History: Noreen Morrow continues to climb the leaderboards after her induction into the 1,000-point, 500-rebound club on Jan. 20. Her 1,055 points rank 12th in school history and are four points behind Michelle Mackie (1,059 from 1988-92). Her 569 career rebounds are eighth and just two behind Ashley Katch (571 from 2005-08).
SERIES NOTES
Simpson and Central meet for the 89th time in a series that dates back to the 1975-76 season … Simpson leads the all-time series 58-30 … the Storm beat Central 89-74 on Jan. 17, extending their winning streak to 33 games … Simpson is 28-13 in Cowles Fiehould against the Dutch.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
The Dutch and first-year head coach Joe Steinkamp are 7-14 on the season and are on a 10-game losing streak … Central sits at-or-near the bottom of the IIAC in scoring offense and defense, averaging 65.6 ppg (9th) and giving up 72.0 ppg (8th) … the Dutch are first in the IIAC in 3-pointers made per game (9.1) and have averaged 13.5 the last four games … senior guard Emily Dine ranks eighth in scoring in the conference with 13.1 ppg … but she has been stopped to only score 7.25 ppg the last four … 5-11 forward Jackie Kriegal averages 10.0 ppg and leads the IIAC in rebounding with 11.5 rpg.
