Indianola, Iowa -- In a classic ending to a never-forget season, the Simpson College women's basketball team outlasted Coe College, 89-84, in overtime. The Storm won its first conference championship since 2013 and its 13th overall. Head coach
Brian Niemuth has been there for 12 of the program's 13 titles and this year guided Simpson to an 8-0 conference record and a 12-0 overall record. Coe finished an outstanding season at 6-2 in the A-R-C and 9-4 overall.
The game was tight throughout. Simpson led, 35-30, at halftime but then found itself down by five heading into the fourth quarter (59-54). What looked to be the decisive run in the game began that fourth quarter as the Storm went on a 19-0 run to lead, 73-59, until a Coe basket with 5:37 left in regulation. Leading scorers in that run were
Cassie Nash with 10 points and
Anna Wanek with five points. Game over, right? Wrong.
The Kohawks not only erased the 14-point deficit but went ahead on
Molly Buck's 3-pointer from the corner with four seconds remaining. Down 79-77, Simpson put the ball in the hands of
Cameron Kincaid, who drove hard to her right and drew a foul. Kincaid's amazing efficiency at the foul line continued, draining both shots and sending the game to overtime. Kincaid entered the game making 95% of her overall attempts.
The overtime was back-and-forth until Simpson's
Jenna Taylor provided some breathing room with a three to make the score, 84-79. Coe did get within 86-84, but the Storm closed it out from the foul line.
Simpson, with four double-figure scorers, was led by Nash's 31, Taylor's 23 (11 rebounds), Kincaid's 10, and Wanek's 10. The Storm was very good from the line, hitting 75% (27-of-36). Coe's standout twins,
Jackie and
Jamie Feldt scored 27 and 26 points, respectively.
Kaalyn Petersen had 13 (10 rebounds) and Buck tossed in 11.
Due to a Covid-altered regular season schedule that employed an eight-game single round-robin, in place of the typical 16-game double round-robin, the coaches and Athletic Directors approved recognizing a single Conference Champion in lieu of a regular season and tournament champion. With this, the coaches and Athletic Directors approved, for the first time, an all-comers tournament, which usually has six participants, that would determine the 2021 Conference Champion.
