Women's basketball receives seven statistical champion awards
INDIANOLA, Iowa – The Simpson College women's basketball team along with seniors Cameron Kincaid and Kia Rasmussen were named NCAA Division III statistical champions at the conclusion of the 2021-22 season.
The Storm, who qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nine years, led all DIII programs in five team categories including field goal percentage, 3-point percentage, free throw percentage, assists per game, and assist-to-turnover ratio. Furthermore, Kincaid was tabbed the statistical champion for free throw percentage and Rasmussen was the individual champion for assist-to-turnover ratio.
Simpson becomes the first program in DIII history to achieve the feat of leading the nation in all three shooting categories in a single season. Overall, the Storm shot a school record 48.5 percent from the field, 37.6 percent beyond the arc and 79.1 percent at the free throw line, while ranking fourth in the country in scoring offense with 85.1 points per game. During the team's second-straight undefeated American Rivers Conference season, the Storm offense was even more electric with an average of 89.3 points per game - a new league record. Simpson outscored A-R-C opponents by an average of 27.9 points while shooting 49.9 percent from field goal range, 40.6 percent from three and 80.8 percent from the line.
As proven by five players averaging more than 10 points per game, the Storm played unselfish basketball all season long. With 20.7 assists per game, Simpson ranked first among all NCAA women's basketball programs. The team tallied 579 total assists (1st in DIII) and did so while committing just 14.1 turnovers per game for a 1.47 assist-to-turnover ratio that led all DII and DIII teams. Individually, Rasmussen posted the highest individual assist-to-turnover ratio of any male or female in the NCAA. Her 4.54 ratio was the best in DIII history since Devin Beasley (Thomas More) recorded a 4.76 ratio in 2014.
One of the most reliable free throw shooters in school history, Kincaid defended her position atop the DIII leaderboard with a 92.2 free throw percentage this season. She converted 106 free throws throughout the season, including 36 consecutive between Dec. 29-Feb. 5, and made 94.0 percent of her attempts in league play to set a new A-R-C record. Over the last two seasons of leading DIII in free throw efficiency, Kincaid only missed 11 free throws in 164 attempts for a 93.3 percentage.
Along with Kincaid and Rasmussen, junior Cassie Nash and graduate student Jenna Taylor ranked inside the top-10 of the NCAA's individual leaderboard. Nash finished the season with the ninth-best field goal percentage (57.9) and ranked seventh in the nation with 89 steals, the second highest season total in team history. Taylor, the 2019 statistical champion for 3-point percentage, finished runner-up in the category with a 44.9 percentage. She also ranked 10th with a 57.1 field goal percentage.
Simpson's NCAA Division III Statistical Champion Team Awards
2022 - field goal percentage (48.5), 3-point percentage (37.6), free throw percentage (79.1), assists per game (20.7), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.47)
2008 - field goal percentage (48.0)
1999 - scoring margin (24.2)
1996 - field goal percentage (48.1)
Simpson's NCAA Division III Statistical Champion Individual Awards
2022 - Kia Rasmussen, assist-to-turnover ratio (4.54)
2022 - Cameron Kincaid, free throw percentage (92.2)
2021 - Cameron Kincaid, free throw percentage (95.9)
2019 - Jenna Taylor, 3 point percentage (48.9)
2009 - Amy Hamilton, 3-point percentage (49.6)
2007 - Ashley Katch, blocked shots per game (5.07)
