Contact: Brock Reisler, Assistant Executive Director, breisler@midwestconference.org
 
RIPON, Wisconsin – Thanks to an impressive defensive effort, the Ripon College women’s basketball program won its third consecutive Midwest Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament crown with a 65-29 victory over rival Lawrence on Saturday afternoon inside Weiske Gymnasium.
 
Both teams battled through a low-scoring first quarter that saw 15 total total points and six made field goals. However, the scoring picked up in the second quarter – Ripon led by 11 late in the quarter, holding Lawrence scoreless for three and a half minutes – and the Red Hawks took a 26-17 lead into the break.
 
Ripon pulled away in the second half, allowing 12 total points in the final 20 minutes of action. The Red Hawks shot north of 45% from the floor in the third and fourth quarters, limiting the Vikings to 1-of-16 three-point shooting in the game, to earn their third consecutive NCAA Tournament berth.
 
Sophie Schlieve scored a game-high 16 points for Ripon, while Laney Havlovitz chipped in 13 and Natalie Rauwolf added 11. Olivia Kesti and Molly Deering each tallied 8 points to lead Lawrence.
 
Lawrence ends its season with a record of 21-6 (13-3 MWC).
 
Ripon now awaits its NCAA Tournament destination. The NCAA Selection Show is set for 1:30 p.m. on Monday, March 2, and will be livestreamed on NCAA.com.