Lady Hawks play number of thrilling games en route to 7-1 MWC record

While some students were off on Winter Break, the women's basketball team was working hard and winning games; including a three game stretch where they won by a combined total of seven points. After their first conference loss to Lake Forest this past weekend, the Hawks have earned a record of 11-4 (7-1) and find themselves only behind Lake Forest for the conference lead. Prior to their loss, the Lady Hawks won several games that came down to the last second. The first of which was a victory over St. Norbert College with a score of 62-61. The game was a constant battle where neither team had a lead greater than 5 points. With 25 seconds left, Ripon led 58-56. First year Korie VanBerkel and senior Carissa Zuercher made both free throws to pull ahead 62-58 and Ripon ultimately came away with a victory.

A few games later Ripon hosted Illinois College. At the end of regulation it was all tied up. The Red Hawks dominated the first half, taking an 11 point lead. Junior Emily Meyer went 5 for 6 on 3-point attempts and scored 15 of the team's 31 points. Meyer's six 3-pointers in a single game ranks second for a single game in school history. The second half was a completely different story, however. After a double digit lead, the Lady Hawks allowed the Lady Blues to tie the game up. With 52 seconds remaining in regulation, Ripon was down by four. Sophomore Erin Lind drained a 3- pointer and in the next possession, senior Ashley Meister stole the ball and tied it up. Senior Jessica DeHamer missed one free throw, but drained the other to tie the game up. In overtime, Illinois College wasted no time and scored the first points, but the game was yet again tied with just over a minute left. In the final seconds of the game, Zuercher stole the ball, and was fouled on a successful lay-up and made the extra free throw for a final of 76-73. Ripon's DeHamer again led the team in scoring with 21 and Erin Lind set a single game record with 7 blocks in a single game.

"Thoseclose games are what makes our conferenceso good any team canbeat any teamon any day, it doesn't allowfor us to have an off game," commented DeHamer.

When asked about the thre game stretch, Head Coach Julie Johnson commented, "It is an emotional and mental high that is indescribable. I like the idea that the team has played in pressure situations early in the season so when February madness begins the players hopefully won't miss a beat."

The defending conference champions suffered their first loss on the season this past weekend. The girls were on the road this weekend and their first opponent was Lake Forest. Ripon never led in the game and was down by 14 in the first half. 13 minutes into the second half, the Hawks narrowed the difference to four points. But again the Foresters pulled away and won by a score of 75-65.

The second day of the trip, Ripon traveled to Illinois College. Ripon scored 33 in the first half to IC's 22 and the Lady Hawks kept the lead for the rest of the game, finishing their trip on a good note.

As the conference heats up, Johnson is more than excited. "My favorite part of the season is now! I enjoy watching the players grow so much mentally and emotionally in the last four weeks of the regular season."

The team is currently second in the Midwest Conference and is preparing for their game tonight against Lawrence at 5:30 p.m.