RIPON, WIS.—Game one of the Carthage College women's basketball team's post-Christmas schedule pitted them at Ripon College on Saturday afternoon. The Lady Reds found themselves in a 30-23 hole at halftime before their 20-6 third-quarter run propelled them to a 63-52 victory over the Redhawks. Maggie Berigan powered Carthage's second-half surge with 12 points en route to a career-high 17 for the contest.
 
"As a staff, we stood two or three minutes outside the locker room at halftime trying to figure out what had happened," said head women's basketball coach Tim Bernero. "I told everyone they need to relax and loosen up as they looked tight out of the gates, but the second half started and Berigan was fantastic as she played her best game ever."
 
The Lady Reds, who only pulled down 11 boards in the first half, out-rebounded Ripon 18-16 in the second half. Carthage also came back to outshoot Ripon with a 22-of-51 (.431) field goal percentage and a 4-of-10 (.400) three-point field goal percentage after the Redhawks held advantages in those categories at halftime.
 
Morgan Harris chipped in 15 points and notched a team-high eight boards for the Lady Reds. Autumn Kalis's 11 points rounded out the Carthage players who finished with double-figure scoring.  
 
The Lady Reds improve to 8-4, 1-2 CCIW while Ripon falls to 5-5, 3-1 MWC.
 
Lady Reds 63, Ripon 52
 
Three pointers from Kalis, Harris and Bailey Gilbert powered Carthage's 13-9 first quarter. Gilbert added another three pointer for Carthage to stretch their advantage to 18-11 with 7:47 remaining in the second quarter before the Redhawks took control. Emma McDonald and Natalie Geiger powered Ripon's 10-0 run with a layup and three-pointer each to give them a 21-18 lead with 4:56 left in the second frame.
 
The Lady Reds responded with a brief 23-21 lead off Monica Masini's layup with 3:16 left before Ripon closed the frame with a 9-0 run en route to a 30-23 halftime advantage. It was a lead Ripon held onto until the 6:24 mark of the third quarter when Morgan Harris nailed a free throw to give Carthage a 34-33 edge.
 
Both teams traded the lead twice before Carthage forced five Ripon turnovers within the final 3:30 of the third quarter, which propelled the Lady Reds to a 43-36 lead heading into the fourth frame. The five Redhawk turnovers within the final stages of the frame also capped a 20-6 third quarter for Carthage.
 
Carthage exploited Ripon's woes from the free throw line in the fourth quarter as they converted on 12-of-16 attempts in the frame to seal a 63-52 victory. Ripon finished the contest with a 5-of-15 (.333) mark from the charity strip.
 
The Lady Reds will return to CCIW play on Wednesday, January 3 against Wheaton College (Ill.) at Tarble Arena. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m.
 
"The formula for conference usually is that you have to win your home games and at least go .500 on the road to have a shot," said Bernero. "We've lost two on the road and beat Augustana at home, so we have to hold serve on Wednesday at home."