The Central and Simpson College Basketball teams renewed their long-standing rivalry Saturday to wrap up the regular season. The #5 ranked Simpson women’s basketball team defeated Central 109-64, while the Central men’s squad downed the Storm 89-73, with both games heard live on 92.1 KRLS and 94.3 KNIA.
The Simpson women’s basketball team extended their winning streak over Central to 41 games dating back to January 11th of 2003. The Storm raced out to a commanding first half lead of 64-37, shooting 11 of 22 from three-point range while limiting the Dutch to just 12-25 shooting from the field overall in the half. Simpson outrebounded Central 43-36 in the game and forced 31 Dutch turnovers to run away with the 45-point victory. Jenna Taylor led the way offensively for the Storm with 17 points, while Cassie Nash provided 15 points, eight assists, six rebounds, and five steals off the bench. Annie Swaters was the lone Dutch to reach double figures in scoring with 10 points, while Allison Van Gorp added nine points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
In the second game of the doubleheader, it was Central who controlled the game from the opening-tip. The Dutch jumped out to a quick 15-4 lead in the opening five minutes, highlighted by fifth-year senior Caden Mauck becoming the 31st member of the 1,000 career-point club in his final career game. Central shot lights out in the first half connecting on 63.3% of their shots while limiting Simpson to just 33.3% from the field, to go into the halftime break up 43-25. The Dutch extended the lead to as much as 24 early in the second half, before the Storm would cut the lead back to 12, but Central would keep the Storm at arm’s reach to come away with the 16-point victory in Craig Douma’s final game as Head Coach of the Central men’s basketball team. Mauck paced the Dutch scoring attack with 16 points and Josh Van Gorp added 14 points and eight rebounds. For Simpson, Tajen Ross was the lone double figure scorer with 24 points, with Rhett Darland and Andrew Curran each scoring nine.
The Simpson women’s team finished the regular season with a perfect 15-0 record in American Rivers Conference action, and a 23-1 record overall. The Storm men’s squad ends their season with a 5-20 on the year and 2-14 in conference action with the loss. The Simpson women’s team will compete Thursday in the semifinals of the American Rivers Conference Tournament against the winner of the University of Dubuque and Luther College.
The Dutch women’s team ends their season with a 6-15 overall record and a 4-11 record in American Rivers Conference play. The Central men’s squad wraps up their regular season with a 7-17 overall record and a 4-12 conference record.
