Women's basketball team has its eyes on the prize

Fresh off another 20-win season, head coach Brian Niemuth's goals for the 2011-12 Simpson women's basketball team are pretty straightforward.

"Our goals are to win the conference championship and get back to the NCAA Tournament," Niemuth said.

Postseason appearances and conference titles have become the norm for Niemuth, who enters his 25th season at Simpson. The Storm have won at least a share of the Iowa Conference Championship in each of the last four seasons while appearing in the NCAA Tournament seven years in a row.

Last year, the Storm went 22-7, tied with Coe for the Iowa Conference regular season title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament as an at-large bid. Once there, Simpson knocked off Minnesota Intercollegiate Conference Tournament Champion, Concordia-Moorhead in the first round before falling to host UW-Stevens Point.

Niemuth's team displayed a balanced attack with 10 players averaging more than 12 minutes and nine players averaging more than five points per game. Even with only one player averaging double-figures, the Storm were the second-highest scoring team in the nation during the regular season with 82.2 points per game.

Despite losing four starters to graduation, Niemuth has no reason to believe this team won't pick up where it left off.

"We have a very well balanced group with Stacey Schutjer leading the pack," Niemuth said. "This is an unselfish group who is very focused on what they want to accomplish."

Schutjer is certainly the most decorated of the Storm's returners. The 6-2 senior from Titonka, Iowa, is a two-time first team all-conference performer and an honorable mention WBCA All-American. She has been the Storm's leading scorer the past two seasons and  ranked in the top five in the Iowa Conference in scoring (fourth, 14.1 ppg), rebounding (tie-fifth, 7.0 rpg), field-goal percentage (first, 93-of-158, 58.9 percent) and blocked shots (third, 2.13 bpg) last season. In all, she averaged 13.3 points per game will solidify the middle once again.

Senior Ali Sokol and juniors Kate Nielsen, Cathy Kain and Kelsie Reeves look to slide into starting roles this season.

Sokol, a 5-11 forward from Urbandale,Iowa, averaged 8.0 points and 4.3 rebounds per game last year. A versatile threat, Sokol can bang down low but can also hit from distance, connecting on 23 of 63 3-pointers a year ago. Nielsen, a 5-11 forward from Urbandale, Iowa, drew some attention away from Schutjer in the post last season and looks to improve upon her 7.9 points per game. She is the Storm's second-leading returning rebounder, averaging 5.9 per game. Kain, a 5-10 forward from Des Moines, Iowa, averaged 6.7 points off the bench and has the ability to hit the three, going 23 of 63. Reeves, a 5-4 point guard from Des Moines, moved into a starting role at the end of the season but suffered an injury in the Iowa Conference Championship game, which sidelined her for the NCAA Tournament. Her 82 assists and 51 steals make her the leading returner in those two categories.

Guard's Jamie Elbert and Ashley Rogers will likely see increased roles as well. A junior from Indianola, Iowa, Elbert appeared in all 29 games for the Storm last year and finished second in the team with 30 3-pointers. Rogers provided a spark off the bench at the point, handing out 41 assists and snagging 23 steals.

After sitting out last season, senior Jess Fraser will spell Schutjer down low. The 5-10 post from Norwalk, Iowa appeared in all 29 games for the 2009-10 Storm.

A solid group of newcomers including junior transfers Chelsie Rohrs (5-9, G, Granville, Iowa) and Nicole Crisp (5-8, G, Shiprock, N.M.) will see time right away.

Even though he fields another deep squad, keeping players on the floor and focusing on the basics is still a hallmark for Niemuth's program.

"Staying healthy is always a key factor for any team," Niemuth said. "We need to stay disciplined and stay within what we do well."

Simpson collected six of nine first-places votes to capture the top spot in the 2011-2012 IIAC Women's Basketball Coaches' Poll. The preseason recognition puts a target on Simpson's back, but Niemuth knows the season will sort itself out on the court.

"There is no more pressure than what we put on ourselves," Niemuth said. "That [ranking] is a nice compliment but preseason polls are partially based on last year's finish."

The Storm open the season Tuesday, Nov. 15 at AIB College of Business. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.

2011-12 IIAC Preseason Coaches Poll

Preseason Polls: The Storm are among the teams receiving votes in the D3hoops.com and WBCA preseason polls.