RIPON, Wis. – The Illinois College women's basketball team became the latest victim of the leaders in the Midwest Conference, Ripon College. The Red Hawks burst out to a 22-7 lead after the first quarter on Saturday and led wire-to-wire in an 82-61 victory, continuing their perfect start to conference play at 12-3 (8-0 MWC). The loss drops the Lady Blues back to 8-7 (4-4 MWC).
Alison Leslie torched IC for 33 points in their matchup two weeks ago and though the Lady Blues held her to just eight on the afternoon, her three-pointer 30 seconds in gave Ripon the lead and Illinois College never caught up. Down 5-0,
Krista Bass supplied IC with back-to-back buckets, but that one-point deficit was as close as it got. An 8-0 run followed for the Red Hawks and the lead reached 15 when Skyylar Brescia scored just before the first-quarter horn sounded.
Foul trouble for the Red Hawks sent the Lady Blues to the line early and often in the second quarter. Though Illinois College made 10 free throws in the frame, Ripon grew the lead to 43-25 at the halfway mark.
Ripon continued to torch the nets in the third quarter and the lead reached its highest point of the afternoon for the home side at 62-34 before
Kendra Bass and
Grace Yaunches scored in the final minute of the quarter. With time working heavily against the Lady Blues, IC made a small comeback in the fourth quarter, slicing the deficit down to 17 with under four minutes left. There just wasn't enough time left though and Ripon eased to victory down the stretch.
Yaunches was the leading scorer for either team on the day with 16 points.
Lilly Pepper added 12 points and eight rebounds.
Another huge matchup awaits Illinois College on Tuesday night as the Lady Blues host Monmouth College (11-4, 6-2 MWC) at 7:30 p.m.
