Trio of Simpson players earn all-conference honors

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – After helping the Simpson women's basketball team to a third-consecutive conference crown, Katie Kitzman, Stacey Schutjer and Amy Hamilton earned All-Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) honors, as announced Wednesday. Kitzman and Schutjer were first team selections while Hamilton was chosen to the second team.

A 6-2 sophomore center from Titonka, Iowa (Woden-Crystal Lake-Titonka HS), Schutjer came on strong in her first year as a starter. She leads the team and ranks fifth in the conference in scoring, averaging 15.2 points while leading the league in blocked shots (2.22). She also led the team and was fifth in the conference in rebounding (6.5). Schutjer accumulated five double-doubles on the year and earned Iowa Conference Performer of the Week honors twice.

Kitzman, a 5-7 senior guard from Gilman, Iowa (East Marshall HS) proved a steady, outside presence for the team throughout the season. Averaging 13.7 points, she ranked second on the team and eighth in the conference in scoring. Kitzman ranked second on the team in assists (49), steals (52) and made 3-pointers (40). Her 42.1 percent shooting from long range ranks second in the conference.

A 5-7 junior guard from Ames, Iowa (Ames HS), Hamilton makes her second appearance on an all-conference team after earning second team honors a year ago. The team's third-leading scorer (10.5 ppg) led the team and ranked No. 3 in the IIAC with 61 made 3-pointers. Hamilton earned Iowa Conference Female Athlete of the Week honors for the period ending Jan. 24.

The Storm (22-5) earned the Iowa Conference's automatic bid to the 2010 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship and will travel to Bloomington, Ill. to take on the University of Chicago in the first round Friday, March 5 at 6 p.m.