OSHKOSH, Wis. -- The Ripon College women's basketball program (11-2, 3-0 MWC) picked up a pair of wins at the BSN Winter Classic this Sunday and Monday, taking down UW-Superior (2-8, 0-0 UMAC) and Minnesota Morris (3-10, 0-0 UMAC). The Red Hawks ride a 6 game win streak into 2026, with the team securing an undefeated December. 

Game 1 (UW-Superior)

Both games at Oshkosh Arena saw similar rhythms for the Red Hawks. Against the Yellowjackets, Ripon jumped out to a 10 point lead after the first quarter, continually attacking the paint to draw free throw chances and interior conversions. Despite difficulties shooting from the field, Ripon's advantage was secured thanks to stifling defensive efforts, holding UW-Superior to just 22% shooting in the opening ten minutes. The second quarter saw a slight change of favor, as the Yellowjackets shot 66% from the floor, but Ripon would generate 13 more shot attempts than their opponents on perpetual turnovers from their opponent. UW-Superior would end with 30 turnovers committed on 5 assists, while Ripon fared slightly better with 22 turnovers on 9 assists.

Up 13 coming out of halftime, forward Sophie Schlieve (Antigo, Wis., Antigo HS) continued punishing the post for the Red Hawks, carving out a 20 point lead for the team by the end of the final quarter. Schlieve checked out of the game with a team high 20 point, 9 rebound effort, also recording 2 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks. Joining Schlieve in double digit scoring was guard Natalie Rauwolf (Madison, Wis., Madison Memorial HS), scoring 11 points while nabbing 2 steals. Ultimately, the game hinged on the turnover margin and defensive efforts after giving up the ball, with UW-Superior scoring just 8 points on the 22 Ripon turnovers, while the Red Hawks scored 33 of their final 71 points off of Yellowjacket turnovers. 

Game 2 (Minnesota Morris) 

The second UMAC opponent in as many days for the Red Hawks presented some difficulties early on. Minnesota Morris came out of the game with a strong interior defensive focus, leaving the Red Hawks to take outside shots while attempting to shut down points inside. The first quarter saw the strategy hold effective, with Ripon scoring just 13 points on 29% shooting. However, the Red Hawks own defensive discipline, led on the perimeter by Rauwolf and fellow guards Karsyn Nelson (Cottage Grove, Wis., Monona Grove HS) and Laney Havlovitz (Wild Rose, Wis., Wild Rose HS), held the Cougars to just 8 first quarter points. 

The second half saw a near inversion of the first, with both teams increasing their pace to earn their highest scoring quarters of the contest. While Ripon would struggle shooting from deep, going just 1-6 from three in the second, scoring inside opened up, with the Red Hawks earning 20 points in 10 minutes on interior looks. The Cougars would also see their shooting improve, hitting 2 of 3 deep balls along with a game-high 47% shooting from the field for the quarter. Despite the shift in game style, the Red Hawks kept ahead, marking a double digit lead coming out of halftime. 

While Minnesota Morris would find their offensive rhythm unsustained in the second, the Red Hawks were able to stay ahead with an 18 point third quarter, before assembling their most efficient ten minutes of the game in the fourth, going 9-15 from the field and 2-2 from deep to put the game away. Bolstering their efforts was strong ball movement and security, with the team recording 19 assists on just 14 turnovers. The Red Hawks found their biggest advantage on the boards, with Ripon securing 50 rebounds, including 19 offensive, compared to just 33 total from their opponent. Forward Molly Johannes (Eldorado, Wis., Laconia HS) would lead the Red Hawks in the stat, grabbing 10, including 4 offensive. 

Up Next

Ripon returns to action in 2026 with a Midwest Conference match up against Monmouth College. The Fighting Scots enter the contest 4-7 this season and 0-3 in conference play, coming off a 96-67 win over Eureka College at the time of writing.