MOUNT VERNON, Ia. -- The Ripon College women's basketball team (7-2, 2-0 MWC) continued their strong two-way play this season with a 30-point victory over the Cornell College Rams (3-3, 0-2 MWC). Guard Natalie Rauwolf (Madison, Wis., Madison Memorial HS) led all players with 23 points, going 5-6 from behind the arc while taking down 7 rebounds. 

The Red Hawks would put together a dominant offensive performance both inside the paint and out against their conference opposition. Opening with forward Sophie Schlieve (Antigo, Wis., Antigo HS) scoring 6 straight points down low to open the game, Rauwolf would hit her first three of the game midway through the first to put the Red Hawks up 5. The lead would only build from there, as Rauwolf was joined by guards Cali Havlovitz (Wild Rose, Wis., Wild Rose HS) and Karsyn Nelson (Cottage Grove, Wis., Monona Grove HS) in a late quarter offensive barrage, with all three connecting from deep to help send the team into the second holding a 13 point lead.

The second and third quarters saw the Red Hawks build their lead to 31, aided by 57% shooting from three as a team across the opening 30 minutes. On the defensive end, guard Laney Havlovitz (Wild Rose, Wis., Wild Rose HS) proved to be a perimeter menace, earning 6 steals for the game while adding in 13 points and 4 assists on offense. After her strong showing in the paint early, Schlieve would exit the game with a double-double, leading the team in rebounding with 11 while scoring 12 in just 21 minutes of play. Ripon maintained their lead through the fourth, earning their 7th victory this season with a 89-59 scoreline. 

The Red Hawks return to action next Saturday, Dec 13, against MWC opponent Grinnell. The Pioneers enter the game 3-6 this season, coming off a 62-50 win over Cornell at the time of writing.