RIPON, Wis. - In their first home game of the 2014-15 season, Ripon led for the majority of the night, only to see that lead slip away in the final minutes, en route to a 54-49 loss to Marian University. The Red Hawks shot just 26 percent (15-58) from the field, including 23 percent (7-31) during the second half, while Marian converted 46 percent (12-26) of their shots after halftime.
After
McKenzie Banasik scored the game's first points on the Red Hawks' first possession, Marian (3-0) took the lead on a Nicole Paulus 3-pointer. The Sabres would lead for the next seven minutes until a pair of
Miranda Gunderson free throws put Ripon (1-3) in front. That was part of a 27-10 run by the Red Hawks in the final 13 minutes of the half, helping them take a 32-18 lead into the locker room.
Marian quickly cut that lead to five in the opening minutes of the second half thanks to a pair of 3-pointers by Nicole Paulus and one trey from Sarah Olewinski. Ripon would build that lead back to double digits with eight and a half minutes to play on a layup by
Emma McDonald, but a layup by Olewinski on the ensuing possession would ignite the Sabres on a 22-7 run to end the game. Lindsay Vogels gave Marian the lead for good on a jumper with just over three minutes remaining, as Ripon managed only five points in the final six and a half minutes.
Ripon was led by
Nicole Herkert, who recorded her second consecutive and third career double-double, scoring 11 points and tying a career-high with 13 rebounds (eight offensive). McDonald led the team in scoring with a career-high 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting, making all three of her 3-pointers, while also pulling down a career-best nine boards.
Olewinski led the Sabres in nearly every category, scoring 23 points on 8-of-15 shooting, to go along with six rebounds, three assists and three steals. Paulus added nine points and four rebounds, while connecting on a team-high three 3-pointers.
The Red Hawks will be back in action on December 3 when they'll host defending MWC Champion St. Norbert College. That game will be Ripon's annual Whiteout game in which all fans in attendance are asked to wear white to the game.
