Green Knights Can't Hold On at Ripon in Tilley's Finale

From Asst. AD/Athletics Communications, February 22, 2019 | Women's Basketball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

RIPON - St. Norbert College held a seven-point lead with just under five minutes remaining but couldn't hold on in a heartbreaking 44-40 loss to Ripon College in a Midwest Conference Tournament semifinal at Willmore Center.

It marked the final game in the 42-year career of coach Connie Tilley, who finished with a 693-312 career record.

St. Norbert nursed a 31-29 lead into the fourth quarter and after Ripon scored the first basket of the fourth quarter, went on a 9-2 run to take a 40-33 lead with 4:55 to go. Macie Zurfluh scored seven points and Sarah Ratajczyk added a basket, which was the final points of the game for the Green Knights.

Ripon would score on its next two possessions to get to within 40-37 with 3:52 left. The Red Hawks would get a free throw with 3:01 to go and Maggie Oimoen's basket with 2:34 to go tied the game at 40-40. Caitie Carpenter converted a layup with 2:04 to go, and St. Norbert would miss its last four field-goal attempts plus a pair of free throws the rest of the way.

The Red Hawks scored the first six points of the game but St. Norbert got to within 14-12 by the end of the first quarter. The Green Knights surged ahead to a 23-16 lead with 2:50 left in the second quarter on a Liz Edinger 3-pointer, but the Red Hawks would score the last six points of the half to trail 23-22 at the break.

St. Norbert shot 18-for-53 (34 percent) from the floor. Zurfluh was the only Green Knight to crack double figures with 14 points.

Ripon made 20-for-49 (40.8 percent) from the field and held a 46-19 rebounding advantage, but committed 27 turnovers. Oimoen led the Red Hawks with 16 points and 10 rebounds.