Simmons: The Quiet Contributor
2/11/2019 3:14:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Smmons is closing in on 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.
by Alan Hieber
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NOTE: The first-place Wright State women's basketball team will host Northern Kentucky Saturday, February 16 at the Nutter Center. Game time is 2 pm.
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Symone Simmons has been the ultimate quiet contributor through the last four years on Wright State women's basketball teams that have posted more than 90 wins with three straight WNIT appearances. While others have received accolades such as Player of the Year and All-Horizon League, Simmons has continued to do her job, the backbone. She recently became the school's (men's and women's) all-time career rebounder and is now zeroing in on the 1,000-rebound plateau. Meanwhile, she is also closing in on 1,000 points, a first for any basketball player at Wright State to reach those numbers. Going into Saturday's game, she needs 44 points and 49 rebounds to hit those marks. Simmons is also currently fourth for blocked shots with 88.
This season, she has posted 13 games with 10 or more rebounds so with 36 in her career. Her career-best 18 boards came at Cleveland State as a sophomore, the same year she collected her career-high 20 points against Central Michigan.
A few weeks ago, Simmons was able to sit down and talk about her career and her future.
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A few weeks ago, the Raiders women's basketball team picked up two signature victories over Green Bay followed by Milwaukee to remain undefeated in conference play at 4-0. The former game, a 85-67 blowout win over the Phoenix Friday night, was the first for WSU since 2014.
"It felt good. We worked together as a team, executed everything and came out with a win as we should have," WSU senior guard Symone Simmons said about defeating Green Bay.
In those two matchups it was hard to miss the platoon type lineup WSU used to their advantage, with 11 different players getting on the scoreboard during Friday's game.
"It doesn't matter which five are in the game," Simmons said. "We're going to get the job done. I feel like we haven't had that in the past. We have a lot of depth."
This was also evident on the boards as Simmons, forward Imani Partlow and center Tyler Frierson each had double-digit rebounds at some point last weekend.
"It's extremely significant as we don't have traditional post players at our power forward position. That spot is shared with (WSU forward) Dasia Evans," WSU coach Katrina Merriweather said. "Symone is usually outmatched in size and height but not heart. If she can do what she does, no one has an excuse to not give it their all."
Despite her 5-10 frame, Simmons has been historically one of the Raiders top rebounders. Currently sitting at 846 career rebounds, she is on pace to surpass the program record of 897 held by Lori Collins.
"She (Simmons) rebounds extremely well on both ends and is responsible for the majority of the second-chance opportunities we earn," Merriweather said. "Even when she doesn't get the rebound, her presence allows her teammates to get them as the other team is focused on her. There's no way we would be where we are right now without her.
"Someone has to do the dirty work. Rebounding is grueling. Hardly anyone decides to be great at it. That is what makes Symone special."
Merriweather added that Simmons can be versatile in several other phases of the game as well.
"Symone's overall play is vital to our success. Her long arms allow her to contest shots," Merriweather said. "Offensively, she has the ability to get to the rim, make the mid-range jumper, and knock down the three. You have to respect every part of her game, or she will hurt you."
With 875 career points, Simmons could also reach the 1000-point milestone later this season.
After her collegiate career, Simmons is considering her options to play basketball professionally overseas. If that doesn't pan out she hopes to return to Columbus and use her sociology degree to become a juvenile probation officer.
"I like working with kids and helping people, so I feel like that is a great fit for me," Simmons said.
When it was pointed out that the Raiders season goal will probably be a Horizon League crown, Simmons chuckled with that likely being in the back of her mind. She quickly got back to business.
"We need to keep that (momentum) going because it's not going to be easy," Simmons said.
The Raiders hope to continue their run traveling to face league foe Northern Kentucky Saturday.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: The first-place Wright State women's basketball team will host Northern Kentucky Saturday, February 16 at the Nutter Center. Game time is 2 pm.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Symone Simmons has been the ultimate quiet contributor through the last four years on Wright State women's basketball teams that have posted more than 90 wins with three straight WNIT appearances. While others have received accolades such as Player of the Year and All-Horizon League, Simmons has continued to do her job, the backbone. She recently became the school's (men's and women's) all-time career rebounder and is now zeroing in on the 1,000-rebound plateau. Meanwhile, she is also closing in on 1,000 points, a first for any basketball player at Wright State to reach those numbers. Going into Saturday's game, she needs 44 points and 49 rebounds to hit those marks. Simmons is also currently fourth for blocked shots with 88.
This season, she has posted 13 games with 10 or more rebounds so with 36 in her career. Her career-best 18 boards came at Cleveland State as a sophomore, the same year she collected her career-high 20 points against Central Michigan.
A few weeks ago, Simmons was able to sit down and talk about her career and her future.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A few weeks ago, the Raiders women's basketball team picked up two signature victories over Green Bay followed by Milwaukee to remain undefeated in conference play at 4-0. The former game, a 85-67 blowout win over the Phoenix Friday night, was the first for WSU since 2014.
"It felt good. We worked together as a team, executed everything and came out with a win as we should have," WSU senior guard Symone Simmons said about defeating Green Bay.
In those two matchups it was hard to miss the platoon type lineup WSU used to their advantage, with 11 different players getting on the scoreboard during Friday's game.
"It doesn't matter which five are in the game," Simmons said. "We're going to get the job done. I feel like we haven't had that in the past. We have a lot of depth."
This was also evident on the boards as Simmons, forward Imani Partlow and center Tyler Frierson each had double-digit rebounds at some point last weekend.
"It's extremely significant as we don't have traditional post players at our power forward position. That spot is shared with (WSU forward) Dasia Evans," WSU coach Katrina Merriweather said. "Symone is usually outmatched in size and height but not heart. If she can do what she does, no one has an excuse to not give it their all."
Despite her 5-10 frame, Simmons has been historically one of the Raiders top rebounders. Currently sitting at 846 career rebounds, she is on pace to surpass the program record of 897 held by Lori Collins.
"She (Simmons) rebounds extremely well on both ends and is responsible for the majority of the second-chance opportunities we earn," Merriweather said. "Even when she doesn't get the rebound, her presence allows her teammates to get them as the other team is focused on her. There's no way we would be where we are right now without her.
"Someone has to do the dirty work. Rebounding is grueling. Hardly anyone decides to be great at it. That is what makes Symone special."
Merriweather added that Simmons can be versatile in several other phases of the game as well.
"Symone's overall play is vital to our success. Her long arms allow her to contest shots," Merriweather said. "Offensively, she has the ability to get to the rim, make the mid-range jumper, and knock down the three. You have to respect every part of her game, or she will hurt you."
With 875 career points, Simmons could also reach the 1000-point milestone later this season.
After her collegiate career, Simmons is considering her options to play basketball professionally overseas. If that doesn't pan out she hopes to return to Columbus and use her sociology degree to become a juvenile probation officer.
"I like working with kids and helping people, so I feel like that is a great fit for me," Simmons said.
When it was pointed out that the Raiders season goal will probably be a Horizon League crown, Simmons chuckled with that likely being in the back of her mind. She quickly got back to business.
"We need to keep that (momentum) going because it's not going to be easy," Simmons said.
The Raiders hope to continue their run traveling to face league foe Northern Kentucky Saturday.
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