WBB Preview: Storm look to extend winning streak over Central

INDIANOLA, Iowa -- The Simpson women's basketball team looks to tally its 37th-straight win over Central on Saturday as the Dutch visit for a 2 p.m. contest inside Cowles Fieldhouse.

The Storm (10-3, 2-2 A-R-C) extended their winning streak to six games after claiming a 103-55 blowout victory at Nebraska Wesleyan on Wednesday. The Dutch (8-5, 0-4 A-R-C) lost 79-41 at Luther for their eighth straight loss in American Rivers Conference action, dating back to last season.

The game will be video streamed live on SimpsonAthletics.com as Bryan Geelan has the call as pregame begins at 1:50 p.m. Fans can also access the video stream via the American Rivers application on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Android TV.

GAME 14
Central (8-5, 0-4 A-R-C) at Simpson (10-3, 2-2 A-R-C)
Saturday, Jan. 11 | 2 p.m.
Cowles Fieldhouse | Indianola, Iowa
Live Video | Live Stats | Live Audio

LISTEN TO THE STORM
The team of Andrew Swadner and Rick Wilson will have the call on 94.3 FM and 1320 AM or online at kniakrls.com. Fans can also download the KNIA app, available on iTunes and Google Play. Pregame coverage begins at 1:35 p.m.

CENTRAL SERIES NOTES
The Storm and Dutch are meeting for the 92nd time ... Central owned a 30-25 mark in the series through the 2001-02 season, but Simpson has been on an impressive stretch since then by reeling off 36-straight victories over the Dutch ... in the last 13 meetings, the closest matchup was separated by two points, while three games have been decided by 10 points or less ... Simpson won last year's contests by an average of 17.0 points, with the big win coming on senior day.

RECENT RESULTS
Feb. 13, 2019 — W, 92-71 (Indianola)
Jan. 16, 2019 — W, 61-48 (Pella)
Feb. 7, 2018 — W, 86-58 (Indianola)
Jan. 17, 2018 — W, 89-74 (Pella)
Feb. 11, 2017 — W, 77-68 (Pella)

ABOUT THE DUTCH
Central and third-year head coach Joe Steinkamp started out the season 8-1 in nonconference action, but have stalled in league play with four losses ... the Dutch are scoring 69.8 ppg for sixth in the league, while their defense is near the top in fourth by allowing 64.8 ppg ... Central has prospered on the road with a 5-2 mark, with blemishes to the second and third teams in the league ... Kelsea Hurley is averaging 14.3 ppg for sixth, but has only scored 13 points in her last two A-R-C outings ... Kendall Brown has aided the offense with 12.3 ppg and has shown her prowess on the glass with 6.3 rpg for fourth in the conference.

LAST TIME OUT
The Storm used a 22-4 run to start the game en route to a 103-55 victory at Nebraska Wesleyan on Wednesday ... 14 players made a basket during the game with Cassie Chubb leading the way with 21 points and 12 rebounds for her second double-double this season ... the defense held tight all evening by allowing the Prairie Wolves to shoot just 28.6% and held the league's leading scorer, Caitlyn Navratil, to nine points, well below her average of 24.5 ppg.

STORM NOTES
• Simpson is first in the nation in 3-point shooting (42.7%), second in field goal percentage (50.1%), fourth in assists (245), assists per game (18.8), and fifth in 3-pointers made (132) and scoring offense (84.9 ppg).
• The Storm have connected on 10-or-more triples in seven contests, with a season-best 15 against Dubuque.
• Kia Rasmussen is second in the country and first in the conference in 3-point shooting at 57.6%. Cassie Chubb is 10th among NCAA Division III schools at 47.1% after climbing 12 spots in the rankings since Wednesday's game. Chubb paces the league in triples made (41) and 3-pointers made per game (3.15).
• All five starters are averaging double figures for scoring with Cassie Chubb at the top with 14.7 ppg. Cassie Nash is second with 11.7, followed by Kia Rasmussen (11.6), Cameron Kincaid (11.4) and Johnson (10.2).
• This is the second time in two seasons the Storm have had a six-game winning streak, as last year's ran through A-R-C play and this season's has one win in league play during the run.
• Head coach Brian Niemuth earned his 600th career victory on Dec. 21 in a 76-69 victory over Millikin. Niemuth became the ninth active women's basketball head coach in the NCAA Division III to hit the 600-win plateau.

UP NEXT
Buena Vista hosts Simpson on Wednesday, Jan. 15 for a 5:30 p.m. contest as A-R-C play ramps up.