MOORHEAD, Minn. -- Ripon advanced in dramatic fashion Friday evening, defeating UW-River Falls 84-81 in overtime in the first round of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament at Memorial Auditorium in Moorhead, Minnesota.

The Red Hawks improved to 26-2 overall with the win and move on to the second round after surviving a tightly contested game that featured eight ties and 12 lead changes.

Ripon opened the game with strong energy, jumping out to a 19-13 lead after the first quarter behind efficient scoring from junior Sophie Schlieve (Antigo, Wis., Antigo HS) and senior Natalie Rauwolf (Madison, Wis., Madison Memorial HS). The Red Hawks continued to build momentum in the second quarter, extending their lead to as many as 12 points before heading into halftime ahead 35-27.

UW-River Falls slowly chipped away in the second half. After Ripon struggled offensively in the third quarter, the Falcons trimmed the deficit to just one point entering the fourth. River Falls eventually took the lead late in the final period, setting up a dramatic finish.

The teams traded baskets down the stretch, with multiple lead changes in the final minutes. Ripon forced overtime after converting three clutch free throws with 12 seconds remaining to tie the game at 70-70. The Red Hawks had one last chance before the buzzer, but the Falcons held defensively to send the game to overtime.

In the extra period, both teams continued the back-and-forth battle. Key baskets by Schlieve gave Ripon a brief lead midway through overtime, helping swing momentum back to the Red Hawks. Ripon then sealed the victory at the free-throw line in the closing seconds to secure the 84-81 win.

Schlieve led the Red Hawks with 23 points while adding six rebounds and three assists. Rauwolf also had a strong performance, finishing with 17 points and knocking down four three-pointers. Sophomore Halle Van Horn (Fredonia, Wis., Random Lake HS) contributed 15 points and five assists, while sophomore Karsyn Nelson (Cottage Grove, Wis., Monona Grove HS) added 13 points and four rebounds.

Junior Laney Havlovitz (Wild Rose, Wis., Wild Rose HS) played a key role facilitating the offense, recording a near double-double with 12 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.

Ripon held a 40-35 advantage on the glass and scored 38 points in the paint. The Red Hawks also converted 21 free throws in the contest, including several crucial attempts late in regulation and overtime.

With the victory, Ripon advances to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and will face the winner of Concordia Moorhead vs UW-Superior matchup. Tip off is set for 8pm on Saturday, March 7, at Memorial Auditorium in Moorhead, Minnesota.