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BELOIT, Wis. – Ripon didn't end their season quite like they had hoped on Saturday, losing 59-48 at Beloit College in a game that was much closer than the score indicated. Ripon trailed by a single point with less than seven minutes to play, but Beloit shot 61 percent (14-23) in the second period to take control of the game and pull away for the victory.
Despite shooting 24 percent (6-24) in the first half, Ripon (7-16, 4-12) hung tough and managed to stay within a few points for the majority of the period. The Red Hawks took a two-point lead on a Christina Schneider 3-pointer with just over nine minutes left in the half, but Beloit (14-9, 10-6) would tie the game on a basket by Angie Meehan. Meehan would give the Buccaneers the lead on their next possession and they would lead for the remainder of the half. Ripon pulled within two on a pair of Emily Meyer free throws with four minutes left, but Beloit would gather the momentum going into halftime, scoring the final seven points before the break.
Beloit struck first in the second half, as Erinn Brooks gave the Buccaneers the first double-digit lead of the game on a steal and lay-up to start the period. Ripon didn't waste any time battling back, going on a 17-4 run in the next six minutes to take a two-point lead, which was capped by a basket by Jeni Yaeger, who scored six points in that run. That lead was short-lived, thanks to Beloit's Amanda Moore, who promptly scored the next five points to give Beloit some breathing room. Ripon managed to cut the lead to one on three separate occasions, with the last coming with under seven minutes to play. Each time they would get in position to take the lead, Beloit had an answer. The Buccaneers ended the game on a 15-5 run, giving them a win heading into next weekend's Midwest Conference Tournament semi-final game against St. Norbert.
The Red Hawks were led by Yaeger's 14 points and seven rebounds. Carissa Zuercher added eight points and two steals, giving her 52 steals for the season, which is ninth-best in a single season in Ripon history. Schneider and Tiffany Goebel combined for 12 points in their final collegiate game.
Four of Beloit's five starters scored in double figures, led by Meehan's 15 points. Christine Brown added 11 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, while Brooks finished with 10 points on five-of-five shooting. Mary Parker narrowly missed recording a triple-double, posting 10 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists, to go along with six steals.
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