RIPON, Wis. - The Ripon women's basketball team continued to roll Friday night, defeating Monmouth 79-43 for their third consecutive victory and fifth win in their last six games. The Red Hawks never trailed, en route to sweeping the season series against Monmouth for the first time in seven years and improving their conference record to 6-1 for the first time since that same season (2009-10).

Ripon (9-3, 6-1 MWC) wasted no time Friday night, scoring the game's first five points and building an early 10-3 advantage. That lead would be cut to three in the first quarter, but that's as close as it would get the rest of the way. The Red Hawks led by six after the opening period, and took a 15-point lead into halftime thanks to a jumper by Laurissa Johnson just before the break.

The lead would remain in double digits for the entirety of the second half, as Ripon outscored Monmouth (2-10, 2-5 MWC) 39-18 in the second half, including 23-12 in the third quarter. The Red Hawks shot 56 percent (32-57) from the field in the game, including 64 percent (8-12) from 3-point range.

Emma McDonald led Ripon in scoring with 16 points, converting 4-of-6 shots from 3-point range. Maggie Oimoen notched her season averages of 14 points and seven rebounds, while Jonalee Elliott and Nicole Herkert scored 12 and 10 points, respectively. Eleanore Muller led the team in rebounding with a career-high 12 rebounds. Ripon outscored Monmouth in the paint by a 42-12 margin, while also scoring 25 points off turnovers.

Monmouth was led by Rebecca Gallis' 15 points and five rebounds, while Mariah Cole added nine points and four boards (three offensive) off the bench. The Fighting Scots shot 22 percent (12-54) in the game, including 16 percent (5-31) in the second half.

The win, coupled with Illinois College's loss Friday night gives Ripon sole possession of second place in the MWC standings. The Red Hawks will be in action again on Saturday against Cornell College (9-3, 7-0 MWC), which is the only school ahead of them. That game will begin at 1 p.m. at Storzer Center in Ripon.