RIPON, Wis. -- Ripon women's basketball delivered a dominant performance on Saturday afternoon, rolling to an 81-56 win over Grinnell at Weiske Gymnasium to remain unbeaten in Midwest Conference play.
The Red Hawks set the tone early, racing out to a 27-10 lead after the first quarter behind efficient shooting and relentless defensive pressure. Ripon continued to control the game in the second period, outscoring Grinnell 26-6 to take a commanding 53-16 advantage into halftime. The Red Hawks shot over 60 percent from the floor in the opening quarter and forced a steady stream of turnovers that fueled transition scoring.
Junior Laney Havlovitz (Wild Rose, Wis., Wild Rose HS) led all scorers with 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting, adding four rebounds as part of a balanced Ripon attack. Senior Natalie Rauwolf (Madison, Wis., Madison Memorial HS) followed with 11 points, while junior Karsyn Nelson (Cottage Grove, Wis., Monona Grove HS) chipped in eight points, three assists and two steals. Sophomore Halle Van Horn (Fredonia, Wis., Random Lake HS) contributed across the stat sheet with six points, five rebounds and three assists, helping anchor the Red Hawks on both ends of the floor.
Ripon's depth proved to be a major factor, as the bench accounted for 38 points. Freshman Cali Havlovitz (Wild Rose, Wis., Wild Rose HS) scored nine points and grabbed four steals, while junior Maddi Friedle (McHenry, Ill., McHenry HS) added seven points on 3-of-4 shooting. Ripon finished the game shooting 56.6 percent from the field and 50 percent from beyond the arc, while also converting nearly 79 percent of its free throws.
Grinnell made adjustments after halftime and outscored Ripon 22-15 in the third quarter, but the Red Hawks never allowed the momentum to shift. Ripon answered each run with timely baskets and defensive stops, maintaining control throughout the second half.
Defensively, Ripon forced 22 turnovers and turned them into 31 points, while also holding Grinnell to just 37.3 percent shooting. The victory improves Ripon to 8-2 overall and 3-0 in conference play, as the Red Hawks continue to build momentum heading deeper into the Midwest Conference schedule.
