Schutjer named Iowa Conference Player of the Week

INDIANOLA - Simpson women's basketball player Stacey Schutjer earned Iowa Conference Player of the Week honors for the period ending Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011 after helping Simpson go 2-0 in securing a fourth straight Iowa Conference Championship.

A junior center from Titonka, Iowa, Schutjer averaged 17 points and 8.5 rebounds in wins over Buena Vista and Cornell as the Storm closed the season with an overall record of 20-5 and a conference mark of 14-2.

Schutjer scored 22 points on 10-for-13 shooting with eight rebounds and four blocked shots in a 92-75 win over Buena Vista on Feb. 16. She closed the regular season with 12 points, nine boards and three steals in an 80-64 win over Cornell on Feb. 19.

Saturday's win over the Rams clinched the No. 2 seed in the Iowa Conference Tournament. The conference championship is the 10th in program history and the ninth for 24th-year head coach Brian Niemuth. The Storm also ensured a seventh consecutive 20-win season.

Schutjer ended the regular season averaging a team-high 13.1 points per game and 6.2 rebounds per game. She has 54 blocked shots on the year and is shooting 50 percent from the field. She has scored in double figures in 18 of 25 games this year.

Simpson earns a bye in the first round of the IIAC Tournament and will host the winner of third-seeded Wartburg and sixth-seeded Dubuque in a conference semi-final game Thursday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. in Cowles Fieldhouse.