Highlighted by senior Cassie Nash bringing home the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award, the Simpson College women’s basketball team had three players honored on the 2022-23 All-American Rivers Conference Team.

A senior from Lincoln, Neb., Nash becomes Simpson’s second Defensive Player of the Year recipient; Nicole Crisp was the first to earn the honor at the conclusion of the 2012-13 season. This is the second major award Nash has received from the league office this athletic year after being named the A-R-C’s Women’s Soccer Offensive MVP in November.

Anna Wanek, a fifth-year senior from Urbandale, Iowa, and Haley Rasmussen, a sophomore from Atlantic, Iowa, both landed a spot on the All-A-R-C Second Team. This is Wanek’s second time in as many seasons earning second team honors, while Rasmussen picks up her first all-conference nod.

The Storm concluded the season with a 16-11 overall record. Simpson went on two six-game winning streaks throughout the year and compiled a 10-6 record against A-R-C foes, finishing the regular season ranked third in league standings. Head coach Brian Niemuth’s squad led the conference in scoring offense (73.9 ppg), field goal percentage (43.9), and assists per game (16.07), while ranking second in 3-point percentage (31.9), 3-pointers per game (8.0) and assist-to-turnover ratio (0.98).

*story from Simpsonathletics.com