PLATTEVILLE, Wis. - The Ripon College women's basketball team started the 2015-16 season in thrilling fashion Tuesday night. After leading UW-Platteville for 35 consecutive minutes, the Pioneers took the lead with under 30 seconds remaining, only to see the Red Hawks answer with a basket on the ensuing possession, giving Ripon a 52-51 victory. That marks Ripon's first-ever win against UW-Platteville in seven tries and is Ripon's first season-opening victory in five years. The win also snaps a 10-game losing streak against Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) opponents.

Ripon (1-0) took an early 6-4 lead mid-way through the first quarter on a Miranda Gunderson jumper. Megan Jensen would hit a 3-pointer just before the end of the period to increase the Red Hawks lead to 14-4. Ripon led by eight at halftime, and extended their lead to as many as 15 in the third quarter.

Leading by 10 entering the fourth and final quarter, UW-Platteville (0-1) did their best to mount a comeback. The Pioneers scored half of their points (25) in the fourth quarter, cutting the lead to one with four and a half minutes remaining. Ripon freshman Maggie Oimoen answered with consecutive baskets to push the lead back to five, but UW-Platteville battled back to take their first lead since mid-way through the first quarter with 27 seconds remaining on a layup by Kassie Hansen. After a Ripon timeout, another freshman Laurissa Johnson, played the role of hero, converting a jumper with 16 seconds left for what proved to be the winning basket.

Oimoen led all scorers with 16 points in 19 minutes off the bench in what was her first collegiate game, while adding six rebounds and two assists. Jonalee Elliott finished with eight points and two blocked shots, while tying a career-high with three assists. Johnson chipped in with seven points on 3-of-8 shooting, but none bigger than the game's final basket.

UW-Platteville was led by Morgan Hartman's 12 points and seven rebounds, while Elisa Bilderback and Allison Prestegaard each finished with eight points.

The Red Hawks will now return home, where they'll get ready for their conference opener on Saturday against Lawrence University. That game will begin at 3 p.m. at Storzer Center in Ripon. That game will also be Alzheimer's Awareness Day, in which all fans are asked to wear purple in support of Alzheimer's patients and their families.