CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The 2022 American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Women’s Basketball Tournament Championship will see second-seeded Wartburg (21-4, 13-3 A-R-C) and No. 1-seed Simpson (24-1, 15-0 A-R-C) collide for the title. The Knights are making their fifth appearance in six years while Simpson is making their second-consecutive.
 
Simpson, ranked No. 5/6 (D3hoops.com/Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA)) advanced to the title game after defeating fifth-seeded Luther (10-17, 6-10 A-R-C) 106-75 in the semifinal round. The Storm set a new program record with 69 points in the first half. No. 18/RV Wartburg punched their ticket to the championship game by defeating third-seeded Loras (19-8, 12-4 A-R-C) 68-54. Both Simpson and Wartburg received first-round byes as the tournament’s top two seeds.
 
No. 1 Simpson 106, No. 5 Luther 75 - BOX SCORE
 
Five Storm scored in the double digits, with Jenna Taylor leading with 27 points. Regan Freland was the Storm’s second leading scorer with 20 followed by Cassie Nash with 15, Anna Wanek with 13, and Cameron Kincaid with 12 points. Hattie Rhodes and Wanek each grabbed six boards to pace the Storm.
 
Kailey Jones led the way for the Norse, totaling 20 points, and eight rebounds. Megan Miller was the team’s second leading scorer with 17 points while adding six boards, one block, two assists, and one steal. Grace Prokosch and Kristen Elliot also hit double-figures for Luther, posting 12 and 10 points, respectively.
 
No. 2 Wartburg 68, No. 3 Loras 54 – BOX SCORE
 
The Knights’ saw three players finish in double digit figures, with Jaedon Murphy leading the way with 14 points and six rebounds. Britney Young added 13 points, three steals, and three assists. Sara Faber added 11 points, three steals, one block, five rebounds, and one assist for the Knights. The leading rebounder for Wartburg was Brea Dillavou with seven.
 
Loras saw four players score double-digits with Madison Fleckenstein leading the way with 14 points while adding one steal, three assists, and four rebounds. Sami Martin and Hannah Thiele each added 12 points, with Martin collecting seven rebounds and three steals. Rounding out the double-digit scorers for the Duhawks was Cierra Bachmann with 11 points. Madison Haslow grabbed nine rebounds to pace the Duhawks.
 
The 2022 A-R-C Championship game tips off from Cowles Fieldhouse on the campus of Simpson College at 4:00 p.m. Saturday, February 26. Simpson is looking to collect their second-consecutive and eighth overall tournament championship win. Wartburg owns five conference tournament titles but is looking to pick up their first since 2020.
 
The winner of the A-R-C tournament will receive the league’s automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament. Additionally, 20 teams from around the country will be selected to the NCAA Tournament field as at-large bids. Final regional rankings, win-loss percentage, wins against regionally ranked opponents, and strength of schedule are part of the primary criteria utilized by the NCAA selection committee. With three A-R-C teams ranked in the most recent NCAA Division III Region IX Rankings – Simpson No. 1, Wartburg No. 5, and Loras No. 6, this year’s tournament field could see more than one from the conference.
 
The 64 team NCAA Tournament field will be announced Monday, February 28 at 1:30 p.m. (ET) on NCAA.com