Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. - The Ripon women's basketball team snapped a three-game losing streak Saturday afternoon, defeating Illinois College 72-69 in a game that never saw them trail in the second half. The Red Hawks also forced 20 turnovers, which they turned into 20 points, while committing 12 turnovers of their own, which was just two shy of their season low.

Ripon (9-12, 9-7 MWC) didn't waste much time in the early going, taking a 14-4 lead five and a half minutes into the contest. They would later lead by 12, before Illinois College (11-10, 9-7 MWC) stormed back, going on a 20-4 run to take a four point lead. The two teams would head to the locker rooms tied at 34 after Jill VanEperen connected on a pair of free throws for the Red Hawks with one second on the clock.

The second half was all Red Hawks early on, starting with a Kacie Cullen 3-pointer on their first possession of the period. Cullen would later give the Red Hawks a 12-point lead, as the team opened the half on a 17-5 run in the first six and a half minutes. That lead was cut to two with just over one minute to play, but Ripon was able to secure the victory thanks to making all eight of their free throws in the final minute.

All seven Ripon players that appeared in the game scored at least two points. Cullen led all scorers with 21 points, as she made 3-of-6 shots from 3-point range, giving her 43 3-pointers this season which is the fifth-highest single season total in school history and is 12 shy of the school record with two games to play. VanEperen added 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting, to go along with seven rebounds and three assists, while Nicole Herkert finished with 12 points and four boards.

Brittany Burgess led Illinois College with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Hannah McGinnis also scored 18 points, to go along with nine boards, while Maddy Keith posted nine points and nine rebounds.

The Red Hawks will now get ready to face conference-leading St. Norbert College on Wednesday in Ripon's home finale. That game will also serve as the Red Hawks' Senior Day, as well as a Red Out in which all fans are asked to wear red to the game.