Box Score

RIPON, Wis. - For the first time since the 2010-11 season, the Ripon women's basketball team is off to a 3-0 start in the Midwest Conference. The Red Hawks accomplished that feat with a convincing 81-55 victory over Lake Forest College on Saturday in a game that saw 11 different Ripon players score at least three points. The win puts them atop the MWC as the only team to win its first three conference games thus far.

Kacie Cullen set the tone for the Red Hawks (3-3, 3-0 MWC), giving them the first lead of the game on a 3-pointer less than a minute into the contest. Ripon only trailed for 30 seconds during the game, but didn't take full control until the end of the first half. With the game tied at 21, the Red Hawks went on a 17-2 run in the final six minutes of the first half to take a 38-23 lead into halftime.

They would pick up where they left off in the second half, going on a 16-8 run to start the period and open up a 23 point advantage with 14 and a half minutes remaining. Lake Forest (0-6, 0-2 MWC) never got closer than 19 the rest of the night, as Ripon converted 59 percent (16-27) of their second half shots, which was part of a 50 percent (28-56) shooting night for the game.

The Red Hawks were led by Jill VanEperen's 18 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocked shots, while Chelsea Moldenhauer added a career-high 13 points, with 11 coming in the first half), to go along with seven rebounds and a pair of assists. Cullen finished with nine points and four boards, while Sia Gonyo chipped in with seven points, five rebounds, six assists and two steals.

Lake Forest turned the ball over 20 times, which resulted in 19 Ripon points. The Foresters shot 34 percent (18-53) for the game, including 26 percent (7-27) in the first half. They were led by Danielle Canulli's 17 points, while K.C. Stralka added nine points, five rebounds and three assists.

Ripon will look for their fourth consecutive win next weekend when they'll host Illinois College on Saturday at 3 p.m. That game will be played at Storzer Center's Wyman Gymnasium in Ripon and can be seen live on http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/ripon.portal. That game will also double as Ripon's annual "Drive To The Hoop" event in which all fans that donate a canned good at the door will receive free admission. All donated items will go to the Ripon Community Food Pantry to help those in need during the Holidays.