Box Score

RIPON, Wis. - For the first 32 minutes of Saturday's game, Ripon proved they could play with Monmouth, as the game featured eight ties and three lead changes with neither team leading by more than six up to that point. The last eight minutes told a different story however, as the Red Hawks were outscored 22-2 in a six-minute span, en route to a 69-52 loss to the Fighting Scots.

Ripon (8-11, 8-6 MWC) took control of the game early, scoring the first four points on a pair of Kacie Cullen baskets and holding the lead for the first 11 minutes, leading by as many as five points. Monmouth (16-4, 12-3 MWC) then used an 11-1 run to take a five point lead of their own with under seven minutes left before halftime. Ripon battled back to grab the lead again later in the half on a 3-pointer by Cullen and after Monmouth tied the score with about 30 seconds on the clock, Cullen scored another basket just before the half to give Ripon a two-point lead at the break.

Neither team led by more than three for the first 12 minutes of the second half, until Ripon hit a wall. At that point, Monmouth turned a one-point lead into a 21-point advantage, as the Red Hawks went 1-for-10 with 12 turnovers in an eight minute span.

Cullen led Ripon with 15 points and five rebounds, while Morgan Johnson and Maddie Koster scored nine and seven, respectively. The Red Hawks turned the ball over 26 times on the night, which is the second-highest total in a game this season, as Monmouth turned those into 27 points.

The Fighting Scots scored 14 second chance points in the second half. They were led by a near triple double by Marla Willard of 26 points, 14 rebounds and eight steals. Kaley Corban added 16 points on 8-of-11 shooting, while Paige Nord added 10 points and five rebounds.

Ripon now sits in sixth place in the MWC standings, two games out of the fourth and final playoff spot with four games to play. They will try to rebound on Tuesday at Lake Forest College. That game will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Lake Forest, Ill. and can be seen live on http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/ripon.portal#.