MOORHEAD, Minn. -- The greatest season in the history of Ripon College women's basketball has concluded in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Division III Tournament, with the Red Hawks (26-3, 16-0 MWC) suffering their first defeat in 21 games at the hands of Concordia-Moorhead (25-4, 16-2 MIAC). 

Saturday's game defined playoff basketball through all forty minutes of action, with the two nationally ranked programs trading baskets and stops at an even clip. The Cobbers jumped out to an early lead, grabbing a 15-10 advantage after the first quarter, helped by 2-4 three point shooting in the opening ten minutes. While Ripon struggled early, connecting on just 28% of their shots to start, the second quarter saw the Red Hawks come to life, outscoring the hosts 18-10 to earn a 28-25 lead going into halftime. Guard Laney Havlovitz (Wild Rose, Wis., Wild Rose HS) put on a clinic, slicing through the paint and hitting a three to score 15 of Ripon's first half points, and maintained her strong play in the second, ending the game with 22 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds and 3 steals. 

Forward Halle Van Horn (Fredonia, Wis., Random Lake HS) and guard Karsyn Nelson (Cottage Grove, Wis., Monona Grove HS) joined Havlovitz in double digit scoring, with Van Horn putting up 14 points, and Nelson 10. Despite the triarchy leading Ripon's offense, the Cobber's came out of halftime ready to respond, improving their shooting to 52% from the floor and a staggering 71% from three on seven attempts. Ripon kept the pace for the third quarter, maintaining a two point lead into the fourth quarter, but free throw disparity would seal their fate. Concordia-Moorhead would go 23-28 from the line for the game, while Ripon would see fewer than half as many attempts at the charity stripe, going 11-13.

Even with the free throw separation, Ripon kept the game as close as could be to the very end, with Havlovitz cutting the lead to a single point with 20 seconds to go on a three. However, after the hosts converted two more free throws, the Red Hawks would come up short on a final deep ball, ending the season in a 65-68 defeat. 

The 2025-26 Red Hawk women's basketball team finishes a season that, by almost every conceivable metric, stands as one of the greatest in the history of athletics at Ripon College. In addition to numerous individual and group statistical records set by this team, this season saw the best record in program history (26-3), the first undefeated conference regular season in program history (16-0), the longest win streak in program history (21), the highest national rankings in program history (#18 D3hoops.com / #13 WBCA), the program's first NCAA Tournament win since 2005, the program's eighth consecutive MWC title and third consecutive MWC tournament title, and Coach Lauren Busalacchi's 200th win.