MILWAUKEE, Wis. - Ripon's women's basketball team opened the season on a positive note Friday night, defeating Alverno 68-62 in day one of the two-day 2016 Inferno Classic. Ripon led for the entire second half, shooting 38 percent (24-64) from the field in the game, while holding Alverno to a shooting percentage of .316.

Ripon (1-0) wasted no time, scoring the first four points of the contest on jumpers by Emma McDonald and Maddie Koster. After Alverno (0-2) took their first lead of the game with a 3-pointer mid-way through the first quarter, Nicole Herkert answered with a 3-pointer of her own to put the Red Hawks back in front. Ripon would take a nine-point lead in the second quarter, but that lead was quickly erased with a 12-2 run by Alverno. The Red Hawks again had an answer for that, scoring the final five points of the half on a layup by Laurissa Johnson and a 3-pointer from Koster to take a four-point halftime lead.

After Ripon took a seven-point lead early in the second half, Alverno again stormed back with seven consecutive points to tie the score at 36 mid-way through the third period. That would be as close as the game would get the rest of the night, as Ripon ended the quarter on a 17-5 run to help them coast to victory.

Herkert led the Red Hawks with her fifth career double-double, recording team-highs of 15 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. Koster added a career-best 13 points, to go along with four rebounds, while Eleanore Mueller and Maggie Oimoen each scored nine points.

Alverno was led by Mackenzie Mathies' 16 points. Gabby Hood added 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Nala Mudd chipped in with 11 points and six boards off the bench.

The Red Hawks will be in action again on Saturday when they'll face Iowa Wesleyan in Milwaukee at 1 p.m. in the second and final day of the Inferno Classic. That game can be seen live at http://athletics.alverno.edu/video/asn, with LiveStats available at http://athletics.alverno.edu/sports/wbkb/tournament/boxscores/20161119_t0yw.xml.