WAUKESHA, Wis. - The Ripon women's basketball team is off to their best start since the 2009-10 season, which was the last year they advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The Red Hawks defeated Carroll University 72-59 Wednesday night to win their fourth consecutive game and improve their overall record to 9-3, while also improving their record in road games to 6-1.

Ripon (9-3, 5-2 MWC) started the game hot and never cooled off, shooting 56 percent (27-48) from the floor, including 67 percent (18-27) in the first half. That helped the Red Hawks lead by as many as six in the first quarter before building a 14-point lead at halftime.

Carroll (4-7, 3-3 MWC) trailed by double digits for much of the third quarter, never getting closer than eight. Ripon took a 14-point lead on a Nicole Herkert basket in the first minute of the fourth quarter, but Carroll made one final run, scoring the next 12 points to cut the lead to two. That would be as close as they would get however, as Ripon ended the game on a 13-2 run to secure the victory.

Ripon's bench outscored Carroll's reserves 40-8, led by Maggie Oimoen's 13 points and Eleanore Mueller's career-highs of 12 points and eight rebounds. Emma McDonald added 13 points and five rebounds, while Jonalee Elliott finished with 10 points. The Red Hawks tied a season-low with 13 turnovers in the game.

Carroll was led by Brittney Wald's 15 points, seven rebounds and three assists, while Malory Christenson added 14 points, nine rebounds and four steals. The Pioneers finished the game shooting 37 percent (19-52) from the floor.

The Red Hawks' current four-game winning streak is their longest such streak in three years. They will try to keep their momentum going on Saturday when they'll host Grinnell College. That game will begin at 3 p.m. at Storzer Center in Ripon.