RIPON, Wis. - The Red Hawk women's basketball team began Friday's game playing flatter than a pancake, as UW-Superior scored the first 10 points of the ball game. After things settled down though, the Red Hawks took their first lead of the game with under five minutes left in the first half. It was a back-and-forth game after that, but Ripon was able to escape with a 58-57 victory, winning their season opener for the third consecutive year.

UW-Superior struck first, as they took the first lead of the game on an Ashley Laidley jumper. Then, it turned into the Katie Moench show. The yellowjackets guard scored 13 consecutive points, scoring nearly every way imaginable, and giving UW-Superior a 15-6 lead. Moench's performance was countered nicely by Ripon sophomore Mona Delsman, who took matters into her own hands, scoring the Red Hawk's first 10 points of the contest, keeping them in the game. One pleasant surprise of the first half was Ripon freshman Amanda Lindauer, who was forced into the game due to an inury to Jeni Yaeger. Lindauer had a shaky start, turning the ball over the first two times she touched it, but after settling down, Lindauer scored six points and grabbed five rebounds, as Ripon climbed back into the game and took a three-point lead into halftime.

The second half was a nip-and-tuck battle, with neither team leading by more than four points. Senior Jo Ellen Buerger hit a two free throws with just over three minutes to play, putting Ripon up by four, but UW-Superior just wouldn't go away. Kritina Higgins hit a jumper for the Yellowjackets, cutting the deficit to one. Then with 30 seconds left, Lindauer hit one of two free throws for a three point Red Hawk lead, giving UW-Superior one last chance to tie. The Yellowjackets got a shot off at the buzzer, but it was inside the three-point line, and Ripon escaped with the narrow victory.

The Red Hawks were led by Mona Delsman's 18 points, on 8-of-16 shooting. Lindauer also had an exceptional day in her collegiate debut, scoring 11 points, while grabbing nine boards in 31 minutes of action.Buerger and Morgan Roberts added nine and eight points, respectively. Ripon turned the ball over just 13 times in the game, while pressuring UW-Superior into 27 turnovers. The Red Hawks also outshot the Yellowjackets 45 to 31 percent.

The Yellowjackets were led by Moench's game-high 21 points. Laidley chipped in 10, while adding eight rebounds and four steals. Kristina Higgins finished with nine points and eight rebounds in the losing effort.

The Red Hawks will be in action once again tomorrow afternoon, as they'll take on UW-Platteville in day two of the Ripon Tip-Off Tournament. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m. and will be preceded by the UW-Superior-Clarke contest.