November 16, 2007

Box Score

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. - Ripon used a double-double from junior Jeni Yaeger to kick off the 2007-08 season on the right note, defeating Northland College 59-48 in the season opening game for both teams at Friday's Lakeland College Tip-Off Tournament. The Red Hawks held Northland to just 26 percent shooting in the first half to build a seven-point halftime advantage, and they would never look back.

The game was tightly contested early on with two ties and four lead changes in the first 10 minutes. Northland's largest lead of the game was three points, but Ripon grabbed the lead for good with 10 and a half minutes left in the first period on a lay up by freshman Staci Dieringer, giving the Red Hawks an 11-10 advantage. Ripon gained a comfortable lead midway through the half, thanks to a 13-1 run, which was capped by a Yaeger free throw. Yaeger led the Red Hawks with seven points in the half.

Ripon came out of halftime firing on all cylinders, as they doubled their halftime lead in the first three minutes of the second half, outscoring Northland 9-1 to start the second period. Northland would only manage to pull within eight points the rest of the way, despite shooting 48 percent in the second half.

Yaeger led the way with game-highs of 18 points and 12 rebounds, while also adding three steals. Carissa Zuercher chipped in with nine points, six rebounds, and four assists in her first collegiate start, while Jessica DeHamer added six points and nine boards. Dieringer gave the Red Hawks some much needed production off the bench with five points and three rebounds. Ripon out rebounded Northland 46 to 36. Half of their 46 rebounds were offensive, giving them 20 second chance points. They also managed 36 points in the paint.

Leading the way for Northland was Jessica Graham, who finished with 14 points on four of eight shooting. Chelsey Lundgren and Lindsey Hamm added 12 and 10 points, respectively. Lundgren also led the team with seven rebounds. The Lumberjills managed just five assists the entire game.

Ripon will now face host school Lakeland College in the Championship game of the tournament. They will square off with each other on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. in Sheboygan. That game will be followed by the consolation game between Northland and Augustana College (IL).