Ratajczyk's Late Basket Lifts St. Norbert Over Ripon

From Asst. AD/Athletics Communications, December 8, 2018 | Women's Basketball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

DE PERE - St. Norbert College senior center Sarah Ratajczyk's basket with 2.6 seconds remaining proved to be the difference as the Green Knights captured a 49-47 win over Ripon College in a Midwest Conference game on Connie Tilley Court at Mulva Family Fitness & Sports Center.

The Green Knights trailed 47-45 with 2:11 left but ended up scoring the last four points of the game, closing out the contest with four consecutive defensive stops. Macie Zurfluh converted a pair of free throws with 1:36 left to tie the game. Ripon then came up empty on its next two possessions while the Green Knights had one empty trip.

St. Norbert (2-5, 1-3 MWC) then worked the clock down, with Olivia DeCleene driving to the basket. She then dropped a bounce pass to Ratajczyk, who was open on the opposite side of the lane, finishing an easy basket with 2.6 seconds left. Ripon called a timeout to advance the ball into the frontcourt. Jesi Nay's three-point attempt as time expired was offline, giving the Green Knights their first MWC win of the season.

The Green Knights trailed 18-8 with 2:59 left in the first quarter but scored the last five points of the period on a Christine Olijnyk hoop and a 3-pointer form Liz Edinger to get to within 18-13 after 10 minutes. St. Norbert got to within one point early in the second quarter but settled on a 26-23 halftime deficit.

Ripon led by as many as seven points three times in the third quarter, the last at 37-30 with 2:42 remaining in the period. Sarah Neumann converted a pair of baskets and Ratajczyk finished a layup to bring St. Norbert to within 37-36 after the third quarter.

St. Norbert led by four points twice in the fourth quarter, the last at 45-41 with 4:10 left after an Edinger basket. Ripon went on a 6-0 run over the next 2 minutes to set up the game's final dramatic moments.

The Green Knights shot 38.9 percent (21-for-54) from the floor. Olijnyk and Neumann led the Green Knights with 10 points apiece, while Zurfluh added nine. St. Norbert committed just nine turnovers.

Ripon shot 38.8 percent (19-for-49) from the field. Maggie Oimoen led the Red Hawks with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Nay added 11 points.