SMC California Athletics

AS A JUNIOR (2020-21): Opted out of the season due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.

AS A SOPHOMORE (2019-20): One of two Gaels to start all 31 games during the 2019-20 season…named to the All-WCC First Team following a career-best season and after being named to the preseason All-WCC team…named to the NCAA 2019-20 Women’s All-Australian Second Team along with three others from the WCC…named an honorable mention selection in the All-Academic team for the WCC…named SMC’s Student-Athlete of the Week on February 10…put up career-bests across the board, starting with 35 minutes played per game, leading to a team-best 16.3 points per game and 84.3% from the free-throw line…her 63 threes were good for second best on the team…ranked third in the WCC in PPG, and top-20 in rebounds with 5.4 per game…also added 85 assists, 23 steals, and 13 blocks…scored at least 10 in all but four games, including 9 20+ point performances…picked up two double-doubles, grabbing 13 rebounds in both…made a career-best eight threes in a win over Western Kentucky, part of a season-best 25 points.

AS A FRESHMAN (2018-19): Made an appearance in all 33 games with 14 starts as a true freshman … Named to the All-West Coast Conference Freshman Team ... Named an Honorable Mention in the NCAA Women: Midseason All-Australian Awards … Earned Muscle Milk Student-Athlete of the Week honor on February 18 … Ranks fifth in the conference in three-point field goal percentage (.405) … Finished seventh in the conference in field goal percentage (.497) … Had a career night on Feb. 14 versus Santa Clara after scoring 28 points, collecting six three-pointers, and grabbing four steals … Led the team in total three-pointers (53) … Averaged 11.1 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in her debut season … Tallied a career-high, nine assists versus San Diego on Feb. 9 … Finished second on the team with 27 total steals.  

PRIOR TO SAINT MARY'S: International competition for her native country of Australia has been a key part in Simons' development. One of her biggest international accomplishments was winning a gold medal in the 2016 FIBA U17 World Championships in Zaragoza, Spain. She poured in 16 points and collected four rebounds in 21 minutes in a big win over China in the group phase for the Sapphires. She has also been selected to the U16 & U18 FIBA Oceania Championship teams, as well as the U19 FIBA World Cup Team. She has competed in Spain, Italy, New Zealand, and Fiji. Simons was selected as a top and bottom age player on both the U16 and U18 South Australia Metro State teams and played a key role in leading SA Metro to the championship at the 2014 U16 Junior National Championships, their first title in 20 years. As a bottom age player in U18s in 2016, she averaged over 18 points per game, shooting .400 from the field. She followed that campaign up with a solid showing in U20s in 2018 as well. She spent her final two years of high school in Canberra as a scholarship recipient to attend basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence, following in the footsteps of current and former Gaels: Carly Turner, Louella Tomlinson, and Kate Gaze. Most recently, Simons was named to the All-Star Five playing for her home club, the Forestville Eagles in the Australian Premier League in Adelaide. Guiding her team to an appearance in the Grand Final, she averaged over 21 points per game, including three 30-point games this past season. In October 2018, she will head to India with Basketball Australia after being selected to the Gems Squad that will compete in the 2018 FIBA U18 Asian Championships.  She was one of only four current college players to be selected.