Wall Leads Four in Double Figures but Scots Fall to Ripon

by Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, Ill. (01/14/2023) — The Monmouth College women's basketball team fell at home to Ripon College 80-66 on Saturday. The Fighting Scots (7-9, 3-4) had four players in double figures but couldn't hold off the defending MWC champions.

The Scots got on the board first through Zoie Wall (Bartonville, Illinois) with a 3-pointer from the left wing. The Red Hawks scored the next six before Wall scored in the lane. Lily Harlan (Washington, Illinois) buried a 3-pointer for an 8-6 lead before Ripon tied the game. Wall made a pair of free throws and Tarae Warner (Burlington, Iowa) hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key for a 13-8 lead. Ripon made a free throw and a bucket before Harlan scored for a 15-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Harlan started the second quarter with a basket in the lane and two possessions later, Audrey Law (Bloomington, Indiana) scored for a 19-13 lead. Law scored again in the lane for an 8-point lead. The teams traded baskets with Ashley Jones (Abingdon, Illinois) scoring for the Scots. Ripon went on a 7-0 run to cut the Scots lead to 23-22 with 3:49 left in the half. Both teams split free throws before Ripon knocked down a 3-pointer for a 26-24 lead. Law made a pair of free throws with 1:25 to play, tying the game at 26. Ripon scored four of the next six points for a 30-28 halftime lead.

Warner made a free throw to start the second half but Ripon locked down on defense and pushed the lead to 40-29. Law got the first Monmouth basket of the half with 5:18 to play and Harlan hit a jumper on the next possession. Law made a layup to cut the Ripon lead to 40-35 before the visitors scored again. Wall scored four straight points for a 42-39 game but Ripon answered with four points in a row.

Ripon started the fourth quarter with a 46-39 lead. They pushed the lead to 50-39 before Warner made two free throws. Law scored the next four Monmouth points but Ripon led 59-46 with 6:36 to play. Wall hit a 3-pointer and Monmouth called timeout with 5:16 left. Wall cut the deficit to eight with a couple free throws but Ripon scored four straight to lead 63-51. Warner knocked down a 3-pointer with 2:30 left and Ripon pushed the lead back to double digits on the next possession. Wall made two more free throws but Ripon answered before Harlan knocked down a 3-pointer. In the final minute the Scots got within nine but that was as close as they could get with Ripon winning 80-66..

Wall led the Scots with 20 points while Law had 15, Harlan had 14 and Warner scored 12. Harlan led the team with eight rebounds, two more than Wall. Warner had three assists to lead the Scots.

MONMOUTH MOMENTS: Ripon swept the season series last year and added a win in the MWC Championship game. They are 6-4 in the last 10 against Monmouth. Monmouth was 19-of-22 at the free throw line Law scored a career-high 15 points. Warner has scored in double digits in four of the last five games but Saturday was her first game of the season without a steal. Wall has scored in double digits in five straight games and at least eight points in six straight. Harlan has scored in double digits in five straight and at least nine points in seven straight games/ Harlan has at least five rebounds in 15 of 16 games this season and has made at least one 3-pointer in 14 of 16 games. The Scots host Cornell at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday.