Contact: Greta Norville, Assistant Director of Sports Communications and Marketing, norvilleg@midwestconference.org 

NEENAH, Wisconsin – Ripon College enters the 2026-27 season ranked No. 16 in the D3hoops.com preseason poll and No. 21 in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). The Red Hawks finished last season ranked 22nd in the D3hoops.com poll and No. 17 in the WBCA poll.

The Red Hawks finished the season last year 26-3 overall and a perfect 16-0 in the Midwest Conference, marking the best record in program history while also setting the conference record for wins. Ripon advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after defeating UW-River Falls in overtime in the opening round before falling to Concordia College (MN) in the second round.  

The Red Hawks return three of their 4 all conference players from last season, including First Team All-Conference selection and Defensive Player of the Year Laney Havlovitz, along with Second Team honorees Sophie Schlieve and Halle Van Horn. Head Coach Lauren Busalacchi returns for her 13th season after her seventh consecutive Coach of the Year award. 

The Red Hawks will open the season at home against St. Norbert College Saturday, November 14. They will then host a fellow WBCA-ranked opponent, Carroll University, on November 28th. Conference play begins November 21, when the Red Hawks face Beloit away.