Dani Ripkey came to Carthage with the reputation as a very good three-point shooter. She will leave as the school's career leader in three-point baskets.

On Friday night, Feb. 24, the senior guard turned in her most impressive long-range performance of the season at the perfect time. She tied her collegiate high by making six three-pointers in nine attempts during the third-seeded Lady Reds' 70-64 victory over second-seeded Wheaton in the semifinals of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin women's tournament at Illinois Wesleyan's Shirk Center in Bloomington, Ill.

Ripkey made a trio of three-pointers in a span of 3 minutes, 51 seconds during the first half. The three others were spread out during the second half, the last coming with 6:32 to play and giving the Lady Reds a 58-45 lead.

Ripkey's second three-pointer of the first half sent her past Angela Beyer, who made 177 from 2001-04 and into the top spot on the school list. Ripkey stands at 182 going into tonight's championship game against top-seeded Illinois Wesleyan.

Ripkey finished with a game-high 20 points, a season high and one off her collegiate high against Concordia (Wis.) on Dec. 14, 2009.

“Today was a huge game for us,” Ripkey said. “We've lost in the semifinals of the tournament the last two years, and we've lost to Wheaton two years in a row, all four games. So we really wanted to get back at them.

“I felt really confident. With me it's, as sad as it is, it's either I make them all or I'm really, really off. Luckily, my first couple went in, so I just felt confident, and my team had confidence in me. So I just kept shooting.”

Ripkey's “either I make them all or I'm really, really off” comment is really, really off. Although this season's three-point percentage is not up to the ridiculous .423 mark of her sophomore season, she is a much more well-rounded player now. She has eclipsed her single-season bests in rebounds and assists, and also makes intangible contributions.

“She's become someone that I feel I almost have to have out there for 40 minutes,” Carthage coach Tim Bernero said. “We put her on (Wheaton's Lindsey) Brenneman. Brenneman had four points in the first half (she finished with a team-high 15), but didn't get started with the three-pointers. Dani was responsible for that.

“Dani made three threes in the first half and three more big ones in the second half. Her guts and toughness might be the most we've got on the team. She doesn't back down from anything. She might not be the fastest kid or the strongest kid, but she's not going to down without a fight. She made some plays tonight that got us in the game and the helped put it away for awhile in the second half.

“She came in as just a stand-there-and-shoot-it player, and that's all she could do. Her numbers on threes went down a little bit to where she didn't take as many shots. You saw tonight she tried to put the ball on the floor, and that's not her strength but she knew that to diversify things, to try to help the team, she's become significantly a better defender and rebounder that last two years. Especially this year.”

Ripkey played 37 minutes against Wheaton. She missed her only two-point field goal try, but made both of her free throws, had four rebounds, an assist, a block and a steal.

“My shooting, I shot a lot better my sophomore year, but I think I've become more of an all-around player,” Ripkey said. “I've tried to drive to the basket more, and I think I've become more of a leader on the team, because I think that's what our team really needs, someone to motivate us and keep us going throughout the game. So that's what I've really been trying to do, because we have players like Diana (Jacklin) and Cailee (Corcoran). They can finish around the basket and they can get us what we need, and I'll just try to scoop up anything else.

“I think my defense has gotten better, especially because I usually guard the driver. I'm not the fastest, but I can give them a step off and usually catch them with my body. I think I've become a lot smarter with my defense, I don't know if it's necessarily gotten better. I hope so.

“I know (Bernero) has enough faith in me to guard Brenneman, considering she had big games against us both times (earlier this season). He doesn't need to tell me that in order for me to kind of know it. So I knew I had a big job today.”

Bernero tried his best to get Ripkey a spot on the all-CCIW third team and was not happy he was unable to succeed.

“My statement (during the conference call with the other coaches for the all-CCIW team) was that she's one of the best three-point shooters in the league,” Bernero said. “Her numbers were down (32.4 percent) percentage-wise, because people don't want to leave her alone. People pay attention to her, and make her a priority to take away. That allows (Allison) Groessl and (Haley) Stercic to be more effective, because opponents can't guard everybody, especially with our post players.

“I feel bad. I wish she got more recognition from the opposing coaches, because what she does everyday and her approach to things for four years ... she's gotten better every year over the summer. Got in the gym and worked. We'll miss her a ton, just as much as we'll miss the other seniors.”

***

There will be no missing Gabby Chapa, because she is only a sophomore. And, wow, does this sophomore guard have guts.

Coming into the Wheaton game, Chapa had attempted all of 10z free throws, making nine, in 42 games over two seasons. The 5-foot, 9-inch Chapa was as clutch as could be, shooting 6-for-6 from the line during the final 32.8 seconds and 8-for-8 overall. The last two were arguably the biggest, boosting what had become a shaky two-point lead to 68-64 with 15.1 seconds to play.

“It could be our last game, so it's now or never,” said Chapa, whose first two free throws gave the Lady Reds a 60-45 lead with 6:16 remaining. “I've just got to be confident, and I knew that when I got fouled that I was going to knock them down.”

Was there any fear at all?

“No,” said Chapa, who has played in all 26 games this season, averaging 13.5 minutes per. “When the pressure's on, that's when you've got to play your best. That's when you have the most adrenaline. That's what gets you going. That's what I love about sports. That's what it all comes down to. This is what we've practiced for all season, when we stay after practice and come in before practice, all the hard work comes down in the postseason. And I think it shows. The work you put in, is what you get out of it.”

That is the kind of talk that makes a coach smile.

“Gabby's capable of that,” Bernero said. “She'll step into a bigger role next season. She's had her moments this season. The last couple minutes, Steph (Kuzmanic) was flustered for whatever reason, and we went to Gabby without hesitation. She's not strong as Steph, but she was able to take of the ball and execute what we needed to do and made the free throws.

“She needs to trust her skills and keep improving. Her quickness and ability to get shots and get to the basket are very good for this level. She's just got to take it to a different level and be more assertive and be more confident.”