DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - After dropping their first conference game of the year to Coe, Loras returns to the Athletic & Wellness Center on Wednesday night. The Storm enter as the preseason favorite in the Iowa Conference with a 1-1 record.

ABOUT SIMPSON ...
Preseason Iowa Conference favorite, Simspon, travels to the Athletic & Wellness Center after splitting the first two games of the conference season. After falling to Coe in their conference opener, the Storm bounced back with a 62-54 win over the Beavers.

Sophomore Rachel Kaale and junior Mackenzie Haupt have stepped up in the absence of Simpson's leading scorer from a year ago, Megan Terpstra. Kaale is the lone Storm player averaging double digit scoring (10.3 points per game) while shooting a team-best 59.8 percent from the floor. Haupt bolsters the play on the perimeter, scoring 9.8 points per game. On the boards, sophomore Britney Boland leads the team with 6.2 rebounds per game.

With each of their losses coming on the road, the Duhawks will have to overcome solid defense to hand the Storm their third road loss of the season.

LORAS OPENS CONFERENCE PLAY WITH WIN …
The Duhawks fell for the first in 2014 to level their Iowa Conference record to 1-1 ahead of Wednesday night's match up with preseason conference-favorite Simpson. Plagued by a below average shooting performance, the Duhawks failed to come away with a win as they fell to Coe 72-65 despite a defensive clinic by sophomore Lori Obendorf.

KEYS TO VICTORY ...
Loras success over the first half to the season has hinged on three key areas. First, when the Duhawks take control of the game early and carry a lead into halftime, they boast a 6-2 record. Conversely, when they trail at the halfway point they are just 1-4. Another key area for the Duhawks is shooting percentage. Loras has shot better than 50 percent in three of their 13 games, holding a 2-1 record in those games. The determining factor has come in Loras' shooting percentage compared to their opponents. The Duhawks are 6-1 when they lead in field-goal percentage. On paper the Duhawks are a team full of youth despite a few starters with significant experience. The youth on the bench has proved to be a spark for the Duhawks, propeling them to a 4-1 record when their bench outscores their counterparts.

OBENDORF LEADS LEAGUE ON GLASS …
Sophomore Lori Obendorf has shown her ability to be leader on the glass for the Duhawks. Loras' starting center leads the Iowa Conference in rebounding, pulling down 11.7 boards per game, nearly four more than the next closest player. The only player in the conference averaging double digits in rebounding, Obendorf's stellar sophomore campaign has been highlighted by captivating performance at St. Ambrose. The Naperville, Illinois native fueled the Duhawks to the win over the ranked Fighting Bees, scoring 13 points and grabbing a season-high 19 rebounds.

DUHAWKS CASHING IN FROM CHARITY STRIPE …
Coming into Saturday afternoon's matchup, the Duhawks boast the leagues best free throw percentage (73.9). Led by sophomore Kathleen Cabrera's 93.8 percent, the Loras' ability to close out games from the free throw line could prove pivotal for them down the stretch. A bonus for the Duhawks is the ability of the bench to knock down the pressure free throws. Sophomores Erin Weaver, Emma Bradford, and Naomi Phillips combined with freshmen Megan Jones and Miranda Chapman have added to the Duhawks success. The stout bench has combined to shoot 92.5 percent form the line (37 of 40).

BATTLING BACK: JONES MAKES DUHAWK DEBUT …
Freshman Megan Jones made her Loras debut on Wednesday, December 31 in the Duhawks battle with Wheaton College. Numerous injuries have left Jones on the sidelines the past few seasons, delaying her highly anticipated appearance. In four minutes of action, Jones hit a three-pointer late for her first career bucket.

BENCH CONTRIBUTIONS KEY TO DUHAWKS SUCCESS …
Paced by freshman Miranda Chapman and sophomore Terese McMahon, the play of the Duhawks bench has been a vital piece to the team's success. Loras holds a 4-0 record when their bench outscores their opponents. While Chapman provides depth at the guard position, Schultz rounds out the three-headed monster in the post alongside sophomore Lori Obendorf and senior Victoria May.

DUHAWKS CLOSE 2014 WITH 20-9 RECORD …
The 2014 calendar year was an especially noteworthy one for the Loras College Women's Basketball program. The Duhawks accumulated a 20-9 record on their way to their first regular season conference title in over a decade before running the table in the Iowa Conference tournament to earn an automatic bid to the big dance. Loras' season came to a close in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball tournament, as a tight contest ended in favor of host, St. Thomas.

LORAS PICKED TO FINISH SECOND IN IOWA CONFERENCE COACHES POLL ...
The Duhawks were voted second, receiving two first place votes. Finishing just ahead of Loras (48) was Simpson College with 54 points. While Coe College rounded out the top three with 42 points, receiving one first place vote. Loras' roster is filled with talent, some of which is unproven with the loss of three key seniors. Simpson earns the first place slot for the second straight year after finishing 14-12 last season.

DUHAWKS LOSE LORAS' TOP SENIOR CLASS ...
Over the course of her career Katie Langmeier etched her name in Loras history as one of the best in program history. Fueling the Duhawks to their best season in over a decade, Langmeier was named to the D3Hoops All-West Region Second team after being named Iowa Conference Most Valuable Player and Co-Defensive Player of the Year. In addition to Langmeier, the Duhawks lose Lauren Byrne and Katie Wheeler. Byrne's leadership combined with her contributions on the floor (6.0 pts, 3.8 rebounds). In Wheeler, Loras loses leadership and grit. Together the three make up the winningest class in Loras Women's Basketball history, with 66 wins over their four-year careers.

ALL-CONFERENCE TRIO PRIMED FOR SEASON ...
Senior Victoria May returns for her senior season after posting career-highs across the board as a junior. As the team's most efficient shooter, boasting a team-best .539 field goal percentage.Junior Kaitlin Phillips was second to only Langmeier in points per game last season (12.2) while she led the Duhawks in free throws (72), three-pointers (34). Sophomore Kat Cabrera looks to build upon last year's breakout season. As a freshman Cabrera averaged 6.8 points and 3.0 rebounds. She led the team with 72 assists while also shooting a team-best 84.7% from the free throw line.

HEINZEN BEGINS EIGHTH SEASON WITH THE DUHAWKS ...
Justin Heinzen will embark on his eighth season as the head coach of the Duhawks after leading his team to a 19-9 record, the best under his tenure, in 2013-14. The stellar season by his squad earned Heinzen Iowa Conference Coach of the Year honors and moved him into the lead for wins in the program's history. He enters the season with a 112-76 record.  

NEW ADDITION TO THE COACHING STAFF ...
On June 2, Jamie Majerowicz was tabbed Heinzen's top assistant. A standout student-athlete and later coach at Winona State, Majerowicz comes to Loras with four years of coaching experience on top of a strong playing career. Her main focus will be working with the Duhawks posts to find a new solution down low after losing Langmeier to graduation. For Majerowicz, she's excited for the opportunity to work alongside Heinzen, who's proven to be effective in the Iowa Conference.