WHITTIER, Calif. - Ripon College shot 44 percent (22-50) from the field, including 40 percent (2-5) from 3-point range, while also converting 75 percent (12-16) of their free throws Monday afternoon, en route to a 58-54 victory over Whittier (Calif.) during the first day of the Whittier Holiday Tournament. That helped Ripon overcome 30 turnovers, while Whittier committed just 14 miscues. The Red Hawks received a total team effort as 10 different players scored at least two points.

Ripon (6-3) got out to an early lead, scoring the game's first four points before Whittier went on an 11-3 run of their own. Trailing by seven points early in the second quarter, the Red Hawks scored 12 consecutive points to take a 25-20 advantage. That was part of a second quarter that saw Ripon outscore Whittier 22-9 to take an eight-point halftime lead.

The Red Hawks never trailed in the second half and took their largest lead of 11 on a third quarter jumper by Eleanore Mueller. Ripon took a six-point lead into the final quarter and Whittier (2-6) would pull to within two on a couple occasions, but the Red Hawks answered with points on the ensuing possession each time, including a pair of Maddie Koster free throws with three seconds remaining to seal the victory.

Nicole Herkert led Ripon with 12 points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots. Emma McDonald added 10 points and two blocks, while converting 4-of-7 shots, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range. Mueller chipped in nine points off the bench on 4-of-6 shooting.

Whittier was led by 14 points from Priscilla Rodriguez, while Amia Thrash added 13 points, four rebounds and five steals off the bench. Whitter shot 27 percent (18-66) from the field, 21 percent (4-19) from 3-point range and 54 percent (14-26) from the free throw line.

Ripon will be in action again on Tuesday when they'll take on Concordia-Chicago at 4 p.m. PT in Whittier, Calif. during the second and final day of the Whittier Holiday Tournament. That game can be seen live at http://portal.stretchinternet.com/whittier/.