DePERE, Wis. - After getting off to their best start to a season in 11 years with wins in each of their first three games, the Ripon women's basketball team suffered their first loss of the season Wednesday night, falling 61-26 at St. Norbert. The Red Hawks finished the game shooting 21 percent (11-52) from teh field, while the Green Knights converted 40 percent (22-55) of their shots.
Ripon (3-1, 1-1 MWC) never led in the game, while forcing a tie on one occasion when a 
Nicole Herkert basket tied the score at two. After that basket, St. Norbert (3-2, 1-0 MWC) scored eight consecutive points to take control of the game. St. Norbert's Regan Carmichael connected on a 3-pointer in the final seconds of the opening quarter to give SNC a 10-point advantage, which they would extend to a 16-point lead at the half. The Green Knights would coast to a victory by outscoring Ripon 29-10 in the second half.
Ripon was led by 
Maggie Oimoen's eight points and three rebounds in 14 minutes off the bench. 
Emma McDonald added six points, while 
Eleanore Mueller scored four.
Carmichael led all scorers with 16 points, while Brianna Byrne and Mallory Nickerson scored 12 and 10 points, respectively, for St. Norbert. The Green Knights held the rebounding edge 44-32, while converting 22 Ripon turnovers into 19 points.
The Red Hawks will look to bounce back on Saturday when they'll host Cornell College. That game will begin at 5 p.m. at Storzer Center in Ripon.
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