RIPON, Wis. – Cornell's women's basketball team finished a difficult three-game stretch with Tuesday's 76-40 Midwest Conference loss to No. 15 nationally-ranked Ripon at Weiske Gymnasium.
 
Despite dropping consecutive games to the MWC's top three teams, the Rams (13-8 overall, 7-6 MWC) remain in the playoff hunt and tied with Grinnell for fourth place in the league race with three games to go.
 
Ripon (21-2 overall, 14-0 MWC), which already clinched the regular season title, rolled to its 16th straight victory.
 
The Red Hawks held Cornell to a season-low 39 field goal attempts and took the game over with a 46-15 scoring surge over the second and third quarters.
 
Cornell's Erin Knowles reached double-figures scoring for the 46th consecutive game with a team-high 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting. Heidi Jorgensen added nine points.
 
Darby Haley accounted for two of the Rams' four 3-point goals. Kallynn Stroup had four rebounds.
 
The Red Hawks forced Cornell into 34 turnovers and held a 34-16 rebounding advantage. Ripon entered No. 2 nationally in rebound margin.
 
Coming up – The Rams are home Saturday to face Beloit (6-16 overall, 3-10 MWC) at 3 p.m. in the Small Athletic and Wellness Center. Cornell won the first meeting, 63-49.