Senior guard Kali March climbed to third place on Cornell’s career 3-point chart in Saturday’s 61-46 women’s basketball loss to Midwest Conference unbeaten Ripon at Weiske Gymnasium.
The Rams (8-11 overall, 6-4 MWC) slipped into a three-way for second place in the league race with Grinnell and Knox, while first-place Ripon (13-6 overall) improved to 10-0 in the MWC with its seventh straight win.
March helped keep the Rams in it early, scoring 13 of her team-high 18 points in the opening half. She buried three 3-point goals, giving her an MWC-best 47 for the season. She increased her career 3-point total to 127, jumping Sierra Bisso (2013-17) for third-most in program history.
Cornell pressured the Red Hawks into 20 turnovers, highlighted by five steals from Rachael Adewusi who also had eight points. Ani’ja Simmons led the Rams with seven rebounds. Kenzie Nielsen provided five points off Cornell’s bench.
The five-time defending MWC champion Red Hawks took advantage of their size, holding a 36-18 edge on the boards and outscoring the Rams in the paint, 42-14.
Bonnie Jensen and Ella Ten Pas tallied 22 and 20 points, respectively, to pace the Red Hawks.
Ripon led 30-19 at halftime and pulled away with an 18-9 third quarter.
Earlier in the week, the Rams took a 64-61 overtime loss to Illinois College.
The visiting Rams stormed back with a 20-point fourth quarter, although Illinois College pushed through in the extra five-minute period for a 60-54 victory inside Sherman Gymnasium.
Senior guard Kali March fueled a late Cornell comeback, netting nine of her team-high 12 points in the fourth quarter as the Rams overcame a 41-28 deficit. March’s driving layup gave Cornell a 48-47 lead with 28 seconds left in regulation.
Illinois College’s Ashlyn Wightman then hit 1-of-2 free throws with 12 seconds remaining to tie it and force overtime. The Lady Blues (10-9 overall, 5-5 MWC) scored the first four points in overtime and made 5-of-6 foul shots over the final two minutes to claim the win.
The Rams sank 10 3-pointers in the game, getting two apiece from March, A’ryn Jackson, Mia Murray, Randi Wright and Heidi Jorgensen. Rachael Adewusi, Ani’ja Simmons and Jackson had eight points apiece.
March’s four assists moved her into 10th place on Cornell’s career list with 194. Wright led all players with eight rebounds. Jackson tallied four steals.
Kendra Bass carried the Lady Blues with 27 points.