CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa --- The Wednesday, Feb. 1 women's-men's basketball doubleheader between Coe College and Simpson College at Indianola will be broadcast live throughout Eastern Iowa on KCRG 9.2, the Iowa Conference office announced today. Tipoff for the women's game is scheduled for 6 p.m. with the men to follow at 8 p.m.
The games will also be re-aired on 9.2 at various times throughout February.The women's game is currently scheduled to re-air at 10 a.m. on Feb. 4 and Feb. 11 and at 2 p.m. on Feb. 18. The men's game is scheduled to repeat at 2 p.m. on Feb. 4 and Feb. 11.
KCRG 9.2 is a digital subchannel of KCRG-TV9, the ABC affiliate in Eastern Iowa. KCRG 9.2 can also be found on cable systems throughout Eastern Iowa. To see if your cable system carries KCRG 9.2, click http://www.kcrg.com/9point2/where-to-find. Both contests will also be streamed live on KCRG.com.
Women's preview
The women's game features a marquee match-up of two of the top squads in the Iowa Conference as the squads have tied for the league title each of the past two seasons. Coe (15-5, 9-2 IIAC) holds a 1-game lead in the IIAC standings and a 1.5-game lead over Simpson (14-5, 7-3 IIAC) and won the first meeting between the schools, 75-72, on Jan. 4 in Cedar Rapids.
Simpson, which has won or shared each of the last four IIAC women's hoops titles, sports the league's top scoring offense at 74.5 points per game while Coe sits third at 66.2. Coe's Kayla Waskow is averaging 17.0 points per game in league play to top the IIAC's scoring leaderboard. She also ranks second in assists (3.64 apg), third in field goal percentage (55.5 percent) and eighth in rebounding (7.2 rpg). Simpson's Kate Nielsen sits third in rebounding (7.7 rpg), fourth in field goal percentage (52.1 percent) and sixth in scoring (12.9 ppg).
Men's preview
Coe (14-6, 8-3 IIAC) enters the men's game on the doorstep of a second consecutive trip to the IIAC tournament. The Kohawks need only a win or a Wartburg loss to lock their 12th trip in the tournament's 14-year history. Simpson (8-10, 5-5 IIAC) is hoping a victory will help them emerge from a pack in the middle of the league standings. Coe took the first meeting by a 90-75 decision Jan. 4 at Eby Fieldhouse in Cedar Rapids.
The host Storm has the league's top scoring offense at 73.7 points per contest led by Zack Barragan (16.7 ppg) and Chad Boston (15.7 ppg) who rank second and third in the league, respectively, in scoring. The Kohawk defense, however, has the No. 2 scoring defense in the league at 62.3 ppg, trailing only league-leader Luther (58.1). David Mataloni is Coe's top scoring threat, ranking eighth in the IIAC at 14.8 points per game.
Coaching milestones
Both women's head coaches recently picked up milestone victories. Coe's Randi Peterson picked up her 100th victory as head of the Kohawk program with a 63-62 win over Cornell on Jan. 18. Three days later, Simpson's Brian Niemuth notched his 294th Iowa Conference victory with a 70-58 win over Wartburg, passing legendary Luther coach Jane Hildebrand (293-155 in IIAC play in 27 seasons from 1984 to 2011) to become the IIAC's winningest women's basketball coach. Coe men's coach Pat Juckem picked up his 100th career victory last Saturday with a 70-58 win over Dubuque.
Women's teams to "back Pat"
The Coe and Simpson women's basketball teams will take part in the national "We Back Pat" initiative when they take the floor Feb. 1 at Cowles Fieldhouse. "We Back Pat" is an initiative focused on bringing awareness and recognition to the Pat Summitt Foundation's fight against Alzheimer's. Both teams will sport "We Back Pat" shooting shirts, with a limited number available for purchase at the game. "We Back Pat" reminder wristbands will also be available for sale during the game. Information tables and raffle/auction items will also be present to help bring awareness and raise money for the Pat Summitt Foundation Fund.
