PLATTEVILLE, Wis. -- The Ripon College women's basketball team (5-1, 0-0 MWC) earned a strong victory over the UW-Platteville Pioneers (4-1, 0-0 WIAC) this Tuesday, Nov 25. Guard Laney Havlovitz (Wild Rose, Wis., Wild Rose HS) led all scorers with a 23-point outing, her second consecutive 20+ point output.

The Red Hawks wasted no time finding a rhythm offensively against the hosts. Converting solid looks, Ripon jumped out to a 23-16 lead over the Pioneers after the first ten minutes of action, sustaining 58.8% shooting as a team from the field while going 2 for 3 from behind the arc. 

Despite the hot start, the second and third quarters saw subdued action on the attack from the Red Hawks, while the Pioneers fought to stay even with their opponent. Ripon's shooting would drop to 50% from the floor and 33% from three in the second quarter, before plummeting to 1-10 shooting in the third quarter. Free throws proved to be a saving grace for the Red Hawks despite the inefficiencies elsewhere in the third, with the team going 9-10 from the line in the quarter. 

Although the lid on the basket kept the Red Hawks from extending their lead, the visitor's defensive intensity preserved their first quarter 7-point advantage, with Ripon holding Platteville to 34.6% shooting in the middle quarters. As both teams hit the offensive wall while staying even in the turnover battle, rebounding would prove the difference maker, with the Red Hawks taking down 41 boards compared to the Pioneers' 25 for the game. Havlovitz would also lead the Red Hawks in rebounding with 8, while forwards Halle Van Horn (Fredonia, Wis., Random Lake HS) and Sophie Schlieve (Antigo, Wis., Antigo HS) contributed 6 and 5 respectively to the Red Hawk's final count. 

Ripon came into the final quarter ready to put the game away. Scoring 11 points in 4 minutes while giving up just 3 points, the Red Hawks extended their lead to 15 with six minutes left to play in the game. The Pioneers proved unable to make up the deficit, with free throw discipline cementing the victory. Guard Maggie Glaus (Elmwood, Wis., Elmwood HS) hit the final two attempts of the game from the line, setting the final score at 69-54 for a Red Hawks victory. 

Ripon returns to action this Saturday, Nov 29 against Carroll University. Also boasting a Pioneer mascot, Carroll enters the contest voted #24 nationally on the D3Hoops poll, carrying a 4-2 record after a 73-52 win over U-Chicago.