Jade Simpson's Big Night Propels Tigers Past Anderson, 89-65

Wittenberg Basketball Jade Simpson
Jade Simpson posted career-highs of 23 points and 20 rebounds in the win over Anderson.

Anderson, Indiana - The Wittenberg Tigers led from start to finish against the host Anderson Ravens, but that doesn't mean it was easy. Wittenberg pulled away for an 89-65, however, in large part thanks to a phenomenal individual performance.

Senior Jade Simpson (Edgewood, Kentucky/Holy Cross) was nothing short of dominant in the game as she posted career-high totals of 23 points and 20 rebounds. Her previous career-high scoring total was 22, and her offensive output against Anderson marked just the third time in her collegiate career that Simpson had reached or exceeded 20 points in a game.

The remarkable stat was Simpson's rebounding total, the highest for a Wittenberg player since 1993 and just the fourth time a Wittenberg has totaled 20 or more rebounds in a game. The school record is 22 rebounds, held jointly by Danielle Rogers (1993) and Monica Schmidt (1984). Schmidt also had a 20-rebound game in her career.

Simpson was one of three players to reach double figures in scoring. Junior Jazmyn Gaines-Burns (Bladensburg, Maryland/Elizabeth Seton) added a season-high 18 points, and junior Riane Burton (Houston, Texas/Cypress Ranch) continued her breakout midseason form with her second straight double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds.

As a team, Wittenberg shot a scorching 59.7 percent, easily the Tigers' best offensive display of the 2023-24 season. That shooting percentage tied a school record set in 1999 against Case Western.

Simpson's hard work on the boards was part of a 54-23 rebounding advantage for the Tigers.