WBB Preview: No. 13 Simpson competes at Loras this weekend

INDIANOLA, Iowa -- No. 13 Simpson College will look to snap a five-game losing streak to Loras on Saturday in Dubuque. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m.

The Storm (5-0, 4-0 A-R-C) remained undefeated after clipping Buena Vista, 79-68, on Wednesday after a two-week layoff. The Duhawks (3-3, 1-2 A-R-C) are back in action after last playing Feb. 6, which resulted in a 70-43 win over Nebraska Wesleyan.

LORAS ATTENDANCE POLICY
"Two individuals per each participant (student-athlete/coach/staff member) will be permitted to attend basketball, volleyball, and wrestling home events. Spectators must check in at the registration tables located at each entrance. Seating for spectators will be designated. Physical distancing and face coverings will be required, according to campus policy. Spectators must be seated with family members only."

Click HERE for the full release from Loras Athletics.

D3HOOPS.COM TOP-15 POLL
Simpson moved up a spot to No. 13 in this week's D3hoops.com Top-15 Poll with an unbeaten record ... the Storm are one of nine programs in the top 15 that are without a blemish ... Simpson is currently second in the nation in 3-pointers made per game with 10.6 and are sixth with an 81.0% clip at the charity stripe ... Simpson is joined by A-R-C foe, Wartburg, on the list as the Knights are No. 6.

Click HERE for the release from D3hoops.com.

ACADEMIC ALL-CONFERENCE
Simpson College placed 17 student-athletes on the 2020-21 American Rivers Conference Winter All-Academic Team to lead the league ... women's basketball had 10 selections: Kelli Hanson, Cameron Kincaid, Cassie Nash, Kia Rasmussen, Hattie Rhodes, Alyssa Rostad, Keara Schmitt, Jenna Taylor, Alaira Tyus and Chloe Van Vliet.

LORAS SERIES NOTES
The Storm and Duhawks gear up for the 76th meeting in the series, while Loras has won the last five matchups and last eight of 10 ... the Duhawks used a 9-4 run late in the fourth quarter in the last meeting to win 76-72 over Storm as the No. 12-ranked team in the nation ... three players scored in double figures for Simpson in the last meeting, Jenna Taylor, Kia Rasmussen and Cassie Nash.

RECENT RESULTS
Feb. 1, 2020 — L, 76-72, (Dubuque)
Dec. 7, 2019 — L, 85-80 (Indianola)
Feb. 2, 2019 — L, 94-79 (Dubuque)
Jan. 2, 2019 — L, 76-67 (Indianola)
Feb. 14, 2018 — L, 86-69 (Dubuque)

ABOUT THE DUHAWKS
Loras and 14th-year head coach Justin Heinzen come into the matchup with a 3-3 overall record and 1-2 mark in league play ... the Duhawks were selected to finish second in the American Rivers Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll after making the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 before the tournament was cancelled ... Loras dismantled Nebraska Wesleyan, 70-43, on Feb. 6 in the team's last outing ... Cierra Bachmann is fifth in the league in scoring at 15.5 points per game to pace the team, while Sami Martin and Madison Haslow are averaging double figures as well.

LAST TIME OUT
No. 13 Simpson survived a scare on Wednesday night against Buena Vista after falling down 15-2 to open the game ... the Storm were able to comeback to win 79-68 and push the winning streak to five over the Beavers ... in total, the Storm shot 46.0% from the floor for their second-highest output of the season with 13 triples, while Jenna Taylor finished with her third-straight double-double with 26 points and 14 rebounds ... Kia Rasmussen added 19 points and Cameron Kincaid tallied 12 ... the duo both missed a double-double as Rasmussen had nine assists and Kincaid grabbed nine boards.

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

2nd — 3-pointers made per game (10.6)
6th — free throw percentage (81.0%)
9th — assists per game (18.8), 3-point percentage (39.0%)
13th — scoring offense (80.2)
20th — scoring margin (20.2 ppg)
26th — defensive rebounds (31.6)

• Storm in the national rankings:

Cameron Kincaid — first in free throw percentage (100%)
Jenna Taylor — seventh in 3-pointers made per game (3.4), ninth in 3-point percentage (63.0%), 12th in points per game (22.2), 18th in double-doubles (3) and 25th in field goal percentage (58.6%)
Kia Rasmussen — ninth in assist to turnover ratio (4.14) and 18th in assists per game (5.8)

UP NEXT
Simpson has a quick turnaround and travels to Luther on Monday for a 5:30 p.m. contest.