GRINNELL, Iowa -- Ripon women's basketball continued its dominant Midwest Conference run with a convincing 67-40 road victory at Grinnell on Saturday afternoon, improving to 15-2 overall and remaining undefeated in league play at 8-0.
The Red Hawks set the tone early, using pace, defensive pressure, and balanced scoring to take control from the opening quarter. Ripon jumped out to a 23-13 lead after one, forcing Grinnell into tough shots and capitalizing on transition opportunities. Senior Natalie Rauwolf (Madison, Wis., Madison Memorial HS) sparked the early run with aggressive finishes in the open floor, while sophomore Halle Van Horn (Fredonia, Wis., Random Lake HS) and junior Sophie Schlieve (Antigo, Wis., Antigo HS) controlled the paint on both ends.
Although the second quarter saw Ripon's offense slow slightly, the Red Hawks never let momentum swing. Strong rebounding and disciplined defense helped them maintain an eight-point cushion at halftime, limiting Grinnell to just 24 points through two quarters. Ripon's ability to win second-chance opportunities and protect the lane proved critical, as the visitors consistently disrupted Grinnell's offensive rhythm.
Ripon seized full control coming out of the break. A 16-point third quarter pushed the lead into double digits, highlighted by efficient interior scoring and unselfish ball movement. Senior Molly Johannes (Eldorado, Wis., Laconia HS) was a steady presence off the bench, finishing with a team-high 15 points and a game-best 13 rebounds. Junior Laney Havlovitz (Wild Rose, Wis., Wild Rose HS) orchestrated the offense effectively, tallying seven assists to go along with seven points, while freshman Cali Havlovitz (Wild Rose, Wis., Wild Rose HS) added six points and 10 rebounds.
The fourth quarter belonged entirely to the Red Hawks. Ripon outscored Grinnell 19-6 in the final period, turning defense into offense and stretching the margin to as many as 30 points. Rauwolf finished with 14 points on an efficient shooting night, while Van Horn contributed nine points and seven rebounds. Ripon's depth was on full display, as 10 different players found the scoring column and the bench accounted for 25 points.
Defensively, Ripon was outstanding, holding Grinnell to just 25.9 percent shooting from the field and under 15 percent from three-point range. The Red Hawks also dominated the glass with a 51-29 rebounding advantage, further underscoring their physical presence and attention to detail.
With the win, Ripon remains unbeaten in Midwest Conference action and continues to build momentum as the season progresses. The Red Hawks will return home next Saturday, Jan 24, when they host Knox College at 3pm in another key conference matchup.
