WAUKESHA, WIs. - In a game that featured two ties and 10 lead changes, including four in the fourth quarter alone, Ripon lost to Carroll (Wis.) University Saturday afternoon by a score of 53-44. The Red Hawks turned the ball over 25 times, which led to 19 Carroll points.

Carroll (2-3) wasted no time early on, taking a 4-0 lead in the opening minutes, but Ripon (0-5) answered with seven consecutive points, including a 3-pointer by Jesi Nay. After the lead changed hands a couple more times, Ripon took a one-point lead into the second quarter thanks to a Natalie Geiger basket at the end of the first period. That lead lasted until mid-way through the second quarter when Carroll took a three-point lead on an Alyssa Cruz 3-pointer, which was part of a 13-4 run by the Pioneers.

After trailing 27-20 at halftime, Ripon began the third quarter on a 9-3 run to cut that lead to a single point. The Red Hawks outscored Carroll 15-11 in that period to enter the fourth and final quarter trailing by three. The fourth quarter began with baskets from Alyassa Burgess and Geiger to give Ripon their first lead since mid-way through the second quarter. The lead changed hands three more times in the next couple minutes, before Carroll took control of the game with eight consecutive points to take a seven point lead with three minutes remaining.

Maggie Oimoen led Ripon with 17 points and 11 rebounds for her 11th career double-double. That gives her 972 career points, which moves her into 10th place in program history, 28 points shy of becoming just the ninth Ripon women's basketball player to reach the 1,000-point plateau. Geiger added 10 points in Saturday's game, in addition to six rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one blocked shot. Ripon shot 33 percent (18-54) from the field, while converting just one 3-pointer in their 13 attempts.

Carroll made 32 percent (16-50) of their shots in the game, while sealing the game by making 12-of-16 (75 percent) of their free throws in the second half. The Pioneers were led by Cruz's 13 points, while Celina Schwantes added 11 points, seven rebounds, and two steals off the bench. Emily Majerus also chipped in with 10 points.

Ripon will now turn their focus to the conference season, as they'll host Knox College Friday at 5:30 p.m. That game will be played at Weiske Gymnasium in Ripon, and can be seen live at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/ripon/.