Box Score

RIPON, Wis. - After winning their first three Midwest Conference games of the season, the Ripon women's basketball team suffered its first setback of the year with a 64-60 loss to Illinois College. Ripon lost despite holding the Lady Blues to just 31 percent (18-58) shooting on the night, with seven of IC's 18 baskets coming from beyond the 3-point line. One difference in the game came at the free throw line, where IC converted 21-of-31 (68 percent), while Ripon made 11-of-18 (61 percent) foul shots.

Neither team led by more than six in a first half that featured five ties and four lead changes. Ripon (3-4, 3-1 MWC) held a 23-22 halftime advantage after a Nicole Herkert basket put the Red Hawks in front with a minute to play in the period.

Kacie Cullen opened the second half with a 3-pointer on Ripon's opening possession, but Illinois College (4-3, 3-0 MWC) would answer with a 25-10 run to take the game's largest lead of 11 with under nine minutes remaining. The Red Hawks then put together a rally of their own, in large part due to 14 points from Herkert in the final seven and a half minutes. Three consecutive Herkert baskets cut IC's lead to two with five and a half minutes to play. After the Lady Blues upped that lead to six with three minutes left, a Herkert 3-pointer cut the lead in half. Ripon would pull to within one on a pair of Sia Gonyo free throws with 16 seconds remaining, but IC was able to ice the game with a trio of free throws.

Herkert led the Red Hawks with 16 points, to go along with five rebounds, three assists and three steals, while Jill VanEperen added 12 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals. Morgan Johnson and Abby Thelen each finished with eight points.

Illinois College had four players score more than one point in the game, led by Hannah McGinnis' 27 points and 17 rebounds (eight offensive). Brittney Burgess added 23 points, which included five 3-pointers, to go along with seven rebounds and a game-high four steals.

Ripon will try to rebound next weekend when they'll travel to Carroll University. That game will begin on Saturday at 3 p.m. in Waukesha, Wis. and can be seen live on http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/ripon.portal#.