While you were eating turkey, women’s basketball went 3-0: 6-1 on season

While you were stuffing your face, shopping and watching football, women’s basketball stayed hot, going 3-0 between Nov. 25-29, defeating Mt. Mercy College, Macalester College and Presentation College.

The Storm also took on Grand View University yesterday, Dec. 3 although results are still pending from that game.

Nov. 25: Simpson, 77; Mt. Mercy, 61

 

Simpson outscored the Mt. Mercy Mustangs 50-30 in the second half as the Storm went on to a 16-point victory in women’s basketball’s home opener on Nov. 25.

Junior guard, MacKenzie Haupt lead the Storm with 17 points as Simpson (4-1) had their fifth different player lead in scoring in five games.

“I think it can be a different player every night,” head coach Brian Niemuth said. “It makes it really hard for the other team to pick out and scout because we have the ability for other players to step up.”

After Nov. 25’s home win, the women’s basketball team won’t return home until a Jan. 1 game against AIB.

Nov. 28: Simpson, 76; Macalester, 37

 

The day after Thanksgiving, women’s basketball kicked off the Buena Vista Classic Tournament in Storm Lake, Iowa with a blowout win against Macalester College of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Simpson (5-1) was able to get 15 players into the game, as a single player didn’t go for longer than 19 minutes, a testament to the team’s depth and expected preparedness as the season wears on.

“This says a lot about our depth,” Haupt said. “We trust all of our teammates to be able to go out there and make plays. I’m excited to see how good we can be once everyone clicks.”

Freshman Rachel Kaale continued to impress, leading all scorers with 16 points, as Morgan Mauro drained three 3-point field goals for the second straight game.

Nov. 29: Simpson, 79; Presentation, 58

 

Women’s basketball finished off the weekend perfectly, winning the Buena Vista Classic with a 2- point win over NAIA, Presentation College.

This was the sixth time that Simpson (6-1) has scored 70 points in a game this season, all of which Simpson has won.

The Storm started off the game on a 21-4 run, eventually receiving 40 points from a bench that entered 11 players into the game

“We are trying to establish some roles for our players right now, and we are getting closer to that,” Niemuth said.

Kaale led in scoring once again with 14 points as Brittany Hedrick and Ashley Dalsing chipped in with 11 points. Britney Boland added 10 points.

Although not putting up huge numbers offensively, Whitney Van Wyk was an integral part of success this past weekend.

While not scoring against Presentation, between Friday and Saturday, Van Wyk had 11 rebounds, five assists, four steals and five blocks.

Since Simpson’s lone 50-47 loss to UW-Lacrosse on Nov. 16, the Storm have won five straight games by an average of 23.6 points.

Despite the early success, the women’s basketball program knows not to get complacent.

“There is still a lot that we need to work on,” Haupt said. “But as long as we keep doing the little things, we will continue to have success.”

Simpson took on Grand View University yesterday, Dec. 3, and play Dec. 17 as they take on Goucher College in the Cruzin’ Classic in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.