2018-19 QUICK FACTS
RIPON GAME NOTES

THE GAME

• The 2018-19 season opener will pit the Carthage College women's basketball team (0-0, 0-0 CCIW) against Ripon College (0-0, 0-0 MWC) at Tarble Arena on Tuesday, November 13 at 7:00 p.m. 
• This marks the Lady Reds' first season opener at home since 2011-12, when they registered a 61-48 victory over St. Norbert College on November 15, 2011.
• The Redhawks concluded the 2017-18 campaign with a 17-8, 14-2 MWC record, which secured them a share of the Midwest Conference Women's Basketball Regular Season Championship. Ripon's 2017-18 season was halted in the MWC Women's Basketball Semifinal Game, where they dropped a 78-75 decision to Lake Forest College. 
• Back for the Redhawks is senior Maggie Oimoen, who paced the team in scoring last season with 13.9 points per game and 7.2 rebounds per game. Natalie Geiger rounds out Ripon's returning starters from last season.
• Ripon's 2017-18 conference slate began with an eight-game win streak before they suffered back-to-back losses to St. Norbert College (57-60) and Lake Forest College (45-66).
• The Redhawks paced all Midwest Conference squads last season in blocked shots (123), blocked shots per game (4.9), field-goal percentage defense (33.2), free throw attempts (478), offensive rebounds per game (17), rebound margin (12.3), rebounds per game (43.96), scoring defense (53.6), scoring margin (9.5), and three-point field goal percentage (.337). Their 12.3 rebounding margin ranked seventh among NCAA Division III squads. 

THE COACHES

• Lauren Busalacchi (60-59) is in her sixth season as Ripon head women's basketball coach. 
• The 2018-19 campaign marks Tim Bernero's (259-143) 16th as Lady Reds head women's basketball coach.

THE SERIES

• The Lady Reds are 6-0 all-time against Ripon.

RETURNERS/NEWCOMERS

The 2018-19 Lady Reds roster will consist of nine returners and seven newcomers. Four of those returners started at least half of Carthage's games last season. 

KEEPING IT CLOSE

The entire 2018-19 roster hails from Illinois and Wisconsin. Eleven hail from Illinois while the remaining five call Wisconsin home.

STAFF UPDATES

Kasey Kleiner joins the Lady Reds as an assistant coach after serving one season in a similar capacity at Culver-Stockton College (NAIA). The Carthage alum previously served as Lady Reds graduate assistant coach after her four-year playing career (2011-15). Kleiner replaced Maggie McCloskey-Bax, who took over as North Central College (Ill.) head women's basketball coach.

SCORING PUNCH

Carthage returns their top-four scorers from last season in Madie Kaelber (16.0), Rachel Szydlowski (9.7), Autumn Kalis (9.7) and Bailey Gilbert (9.6). Two of them are 2017-18 All-CCIW selections Madie Kaelber (First Team) and Bailey Gilbert (Second Team). 

NEW TO THE SQUAD

The Lady Reds welcome seven newcomers to the 2018-19 squad in Maggie Rena, Lauren Herrmann, Haley Ahr, Nansy Velev, Samm Carsello, Alana Radley and Kelsey Coshun. All are freshmen except Ahr, who will be a sophomore after playing one season at NCAA Division II McKendree University. 

2018-19 ROSTER BREAKDOWN

The Lady Reds' 2018-19 roster will consist of six freshmen, three sophomores, four juniors and three seniors.