WBB Preview: Simpson travels to Coe for weekend clash

INDIANOLA, Iowa -- In a long awaited arrival, the season opener is finally here for the Simpson College women's basketball team. The Storm travel to Coe for a 5 p.m. contest this Saturday in Cedar Rapids.

Both teams have yet to play a game and last met in the American Rivers Conference Tournament First Round last season. Simpson and the Kohawks were selected to finish in a tie for third place in the A-R-C Preseason Coaches' Poll.

GAME 1
Simpson (0-0) at Coe (0-0)
Saturday, Jan. 23 | 5 p.m.
Kohawk Arena | Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Live Video | Live Stats

COE ATTENDANCE POLICY
"All spectators that are invited to attend a home event will have secured that approval through their Kohawk or visiting team. All people permitted to attend will be on the pass list provided by those parties. Any further inquires about ticketing availability should be directed to the head coach or staff of your respective program. All venues will open 30 minutes prior to competitions."

Click HERE for the full release from Coe Athletics.

COE SERIES NOTES
The two squads last met in the A-R-C Tournament First Round a year ago with the Kohawks prevailing, 72-69, in overtime ... this will be the 63rd meeting between the two teams as Coe has won three straight, including all three bouts in 2019-20.

RECENT RESULTS
Feb. 25, 2020 — L,72-69, OT (Cedar Rapids)
Feb. 12, 2020 — L, 84-75 (Indianola)
Dec. 4, 2019 — L, 71-61 (Cedar Rapids)
Feb. 16, 2019 — W, 78-76 (Cedar Rapids)
Jan. 19, 2019 — W, 78-73, OT (Indianola)

ABOUT THE KOHAWKS
Coe and fourth-year head coach Kayla Waskow come into the contest after being picked to tie for third in the American Rivers Conference standings ... the Kohawks ended 2019-20 with a 16-11 record and went 10-6 in league play, while reaching the semifinal round of the league tournament ... senior Jackie Feldt returns as the team's leading scorer after putting up 15.3 points per game a year ago ... Madeline Wilkins tallied 13.4 points per outing and Jamie Feldt approached double digits with 9.5 points per game last season for Coe.

LAST TIME OUT
Simpson reached the A-R-C Tournament for the third straight season last winter, but dropped the opening round matchup at Coe ... the Kohawks overcame a seven-point deficit in the fourth quarter to force the game into overtime to prevail 72-69 ... Jenna Taylor scored 18 points coming off the bench for the Storm.

A-R-C PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
Wartburg tallied top honors after winning its fourth-straight league championship last season, followed by Loras ... the Duhawks reached the NCAA Division III Tournament Sweet 16 for the first time in school history before the 2019-20 campaign was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic ... the Storm are selected to tie with Coe for third, Central was fifth and Luther, Dubuque, Nebraska Wesleyan and Buena Vista filled the final four slots, respectively.

STORM NOTES
• Simpson in the national rankings at the end of the 2019-20 season:

2nd — 3-point shooting (37.7%)
3rd — field goal percentage (46.6%)
4th — scoring offense (81.1 ppg)
13th — free throw percentage (75.7%)
14th — 3-pointers made per game (9.0)
17th — 3-pointers made (235)
22nd — assists per game (16.5)
24th — total points (2,108)
29th — steals (327)

• Storm in the national rankings at the end of the 2019-20 season:

Kia Rasmussen — second in 3-point percentage (48.4%)

UP NEXT
A-R-C competition begins on Wednesday when Nebraska Wesleyan visits Indianola for a 5:30 p.m. showdown.