Simpson tabbed fourth in A-R-C Preseason Poll
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Coming off a season that featured one of the nation's top shooting performances, the Simpson College women's basketball team has been picked fourth in the 2025-26 American Rivers Conference Preseason Coaches Poll.
Simpson tied for second in league standings last season and was one of Division III's most efficient teams on the offensive end. The Storm led the nation in 3-point percentage (40.2) while ranking seventh in overall field goal percentage at 45.9 percent. Simpson's up-tempo style produced 77.7 points per game, the 13th-best scoring average in the country, fueled by nine 3-pointers per contest, fifth-most in Division III.
Simpson will look to maintain that offensive firepower while replacing key graduates Molly Lutmer and Haley Rasmussen, who accounted for more than 40 percent of the team's scoring in 2024-25.
Leading the returning group are Elle Street and Ella Anderson, both of whom earned honorable mention all-conference honors a year ago. Anderson was among the league's most efficient scorers, shooting 61.8% from the field while leading the Storm in rebounding at 5.7 boards per game. Street was a two-way contributor who ranked second on the team in assists and among the A-R-C's top 10 in steals. The Storm also return perimeter threat Maddax DeVault, who connected on 31 3-pointers last season.
Head coach Brian Niemuth returns for his 39th season at the helm of the program and enters the year with 694 career victories. "I'm looking forward to another competitive conference season," said Niemuth. "The balance of the league just keeps growing and makes for a very exciting year."
The Storm open their season at the Beth Baker Classic on Friday, Nov. 14 in Wheaton, Ill.
LOOK BACK AT LAST SEASON
- Simpson finished the year 15-11 overall with an 11-5 record in A-R-C action, reaching the A-R-C Tournament before falling in double overtime in the opening round.
- The Storm finished the year as the top 3-point shooting team in Division III (40.2), while also recording the seventh-best overall field goal percentage in the nation (45.9).
- Simpson ranked 13th in scoring offense (77.7 ppg) fueled by nine 3-pointers per game (5th in DIII).
- Haley Rasmussen earned the NCAA Division III statistical champion title for 3-point percentage after shooting a program-record 51.7% from deep.
- Senior guards Molly Lutmer and Haley Rasmussen earned first team all-conference honors, while forward Ella Anderson and junior guard Elle Street received honorable mention recognition.
- Simpson earned a top-10 spot on the WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll, landing at No. 10 in NCAA Division III for the 2024-25 season.
KEY RETURNERS (2024-25 STATS)
- Ella Anderson, sophomore forward (8.5 ppg, 61.8 FG%, 5.7 rpg, 1.1 spg)
- Elle Street, senior guard (6.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.6 spg)
- Maddax DeVault, senior guard (7.4 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 1.0 apg, 1.1 spg)
2025-26 SCHEDULE | 2025-26 ROSTER
2025-26 A-R-C WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Coe (8) - 64 points
2. Wartburg (1) - 54 points
3. Luther - 49 points
4. Simpson - 46 points
5. Central - 30 points
6. Buena Vista - 26 points
7. Dubuque - 24 points
8. Loras - 23 points
9. Nebraska Wesleyan - 8 points
