BELOIT, Wisconsin – The Ripon women's basketball program continued its impressive defensive stretch on Wednesday night, suffocating Beloit in a 69-41 victory over the Buccaneers inside Flood Arena.
 
In the current seven-game win streak for Ripon (16-4, 10-1 MWC), the Red Hawks have held all seven opponents to less than 50 points. This is the first time under head coach Lauren Busalacchi that the Red Hawks have kept seven consecutive opponents under 50 points.
 
STANDOUT HAWKS

• Senior forward Ella Ten Pas led Ripon with 12 points, three rebounds, three steals and two assists.
• Sophomore guard Laney Havlovitz tallied 10 points, four rebounds and three assists.
• Senior guard Anna Fahrney contributed nine points.
• Freshman guard Halle Van Horn chipped in eight points, nine rebounds and two steals.
• Junior guard Natalie Rauwolf added seven points and nine rebounds.

PLAY-BY-PLAY
Leading 4-3, Ripon ripped off seven consecutive points to lead by eight halfway through the first period. After Beloit (2-19, 1-11 MWC) cut its deficit to six, the Red Hawks fashioned together a 9-0 run to go up 20-5. Ripon's final three points of the quarter came at the free throw line and the visitors took a 25-7 lead into the second quarter.
 
The offenses were stagnant at the beginning of quarter two, as it took over three and a half minutes for either team to find the scoreboard. Ripon finally got on the board nearly four minutes in, and its first field goal of the period came via a Havlovitz layup with 4:04 remaining in the period. Still, the Red Hawk lead was at least 16 for the entire stanza. A 9-2 run over the final four minutes put Ripon in front by a comfortable 36-13 margin with 20 minutes to play.
 
Ripon scored the first four points of the third quarter and kept its foot on the gas for the next 10 minutes. A 7-2 run by the Bucs brought Beloit within 42-20, but 22 would be the closest the hosts got all quarter. Nursing a 46-24 advantage, the Red Hawks ended the quarter by scoring 12 of the last 15 points – holding Beloit to one made field goal over the final five minutes – and led 58-27 with one quarter to play.
 
Beloit scored the first five points of the final stanza, but Ripon responded with the next three. The three-point attack of the Bucs kept the hosts engaged in the final few minutes, but the Red Hawks maintained a lead of at least 24 for the entire quarter. Ripon's defense continued to shine in the final stanza, holding Beloit without a point for over three minutes. Ripon scored the final two points of the game to close out the 28-point win.
 
KEY STATS

• Ripon shot an even 50.0% from the field (23-of-46) while Beloit was limited to 12-of-42 shooting (28.6%).
• The Red Hawks made 20 of 28 free throw attempts (71.4%).
• Ripon held a commanding 36-21 rebounding advantage and scored 22 points off turnovers.
• Hailey Johnson led all scorers with 16 points for Beloit.

UP NEXT
Ripon visits Knox at 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 8.
 
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