Nielsen dominates boards in win over Buena Vista
STORM LAKE, Iowa – Kate Nielsen posted her third straight double-double and put up a near-record performance on the boards as the 16th-ranked Simpson women's basketball team beat Buena Vista 62-50 on Saturday afternoon.
Nielsen continued a dominant three-game stretch with 11 points and 19 rebounds for the Storm (11-1, 1-0 Iowa Conference), who are looking to win their sixth conference title in a row.
Nielsen's 19 rebounds gave her a career-high in three straight games and were one away from tying the school record set by Stacey Schutjer in an NCAA Tournament win over Concordia-Moorhead in 2011. In the last three games, Nielsen is averaging 21 points more than 16 rebounds per contest.
Simpson led for most of the game and cruised in the second half thanks to a quick 6-0 run that resulted in a 36-24 lead. Buena Vista got no closer than nine the rest of the way.
Chelsie Rohrs hit a pair of 3-pointers and Kelsie Reeves went 7-for-8 from the free throw line as they finished with 10 points apiece. Maddie Bosworth added four steals.
Susan Kies scored 15 points and Tara Lehner grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the Beavers (7-5, 0-1).
Lehner knocked down a jumper to give Buena Vista an early 10-7 lead but Rohrs responded with her second 3-pointer to tie it up. Nielsen completed a three-point play two minutes later to give Simpson the lead for good.
The Storm travel to Luther (9-3, 1-0) on Wednesday, Jan. 9. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
