WBB Preview: Loras awaits Simpson for weekend battle

INDIANOLA, Iowa -- Simpson will look to get another winning streak going as the Storm travel to Loras on Saturday for a 2 p.m. contest.

The Storm (15-4, 7-3 A-R-C) lost 73-63 against Luther on Wednesday to bring the winning streak to an end at 11 games. The Duhawks (17-2, 8-2 A-R-C) won 69-46 against Central to get back in the win column after falling to the Norse in the previous outing.

Fans can access the video stream via the American Rivers application on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Android TV or by visiting SimpsonAthletics.com to find the video link.

GAME 20
Simpson (15-4, 7-3 A-R-C) at No. 12 Loras (17-2, 8-2 A-R-C)
Saturday, Feb. 1 | 2 p.m.
Lillis Court | Dubuque, 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 1:45 p.m.

LORAS SERIES NOTES
The Storm and Duhawks gear up for the 75th meeting in the series, while Loras has won the last four matchups and last 11 of 13 ... Simpson competed in its closest game against the Duhawks during the four-game losing skid in the last outing, which went in favor of Loras, 85-80 ... Cassie Chubb scored 22 points with four triples against the Duhawks as four starters ended in double figures to come close of the upset against nationally-ranked Loras.

RECENT RESULTS
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)
Jan. 6, 2018 — W, 80-72 (Indianola)

ABOUT THE DUHAWKS
Loras and 13th-year head coach Justin Heinzen are currently ranked No. 12 in the D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll and No. 14 in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Top 25 Poll after winning their last 11 of 12 contests ... the Duhawks are tied for first in the A-R-C with two conference losses, both coming against Luther ... four players are currently scoring above 10 points this season to help the offense lead the league in scoring at 82.5 ... Marissa Schroeder is fourth in scoring among league teams at 14.9, while Macenzie Kraemer follows in fifth at 13.9.

LAST TIME OUT
Simpson aimed to keep its winning streak alive on Wednesday, but fell, 73-63, at home to Luther ... the Storm scored their fewest points in a game since netting 61 at Coe on Dec. 4, 2019 ... the Norse garnered a 22-19 advantage after the first quarter and used a 16-9 run in the second to pull away ... the Storm would bring the game to within five points on two occasions in the final frame, but the visitors would extend the lead to pull off the victory ... Kia Rasmussen led the team with 15 points on 6 of 11 shooting.

A-R-C STANDINGS
The American Rivers Conference now has three teams tied for first in the standings with Loras, Luther and Wartburg at the top ... Simpson follows in fourth with three losses and Coe is in fifth at 6-4 ... Central and Nebraska Wesleyan are both tied in sixth at 3-7, then Dubuque follows in eighth and Buena Vista in ninth.

STORM NOTES
• Simpson in the national rankings:

1st — 3-point shooting (41.0%) 
3rd — field goal percentage (47.5%)
6th — scoring offense (81.6 ppg)
7th — total points (1,550), 3-pointers made (181)
9th — 3-pointers made per game (9.6)
10th — assists (330)
14th — assists per game (17.4)
18th — free throw percentage (75.1%)
21st — steals (241)
25th — scoring margin (17.4)

• Storm in the national rankings:

Kia Rasmussen — second in 3-point percentage (54.8%)
Cassie Chubb — sixth in 3-pointers made (56), ninth in 3-point percentage (45.5%), 15th in 3-pointers made per game (2.95)
Cameron Kincaid — 20th in free throw percentage (86.7%)
Claire Johnson — 22nd in assists (94), 25th in steals (57), 28th in assists per game (4.9)

• Simpson is second in the conference in scoring at 82.6 ppg and third in scoring defense by allowing 63.7 ppg to move up a spot from last week.
• All five starters are averaging double figures for scoring with Cassie Chubb at the top with 13.3 ppg. Kia Rasmussen is second at 11.7, followed by Cameron Kincaid (11.4), Cassie Nash (11.1) and Claire Johnson rounds out the starters at 10.4.
• Simpson snapped its winning streak of 11 games on Jan. 29 for its longest since winning 13 in a row during the 2012-13 season.
• 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
Simpson has an off day next Wednesday and is back in action on Saturday, Feb. 8 at Central. The showdown in Pella, Iowa begins at 2 p.m. as the Storm go for the season sweep.