MADISON, WISC. - Saturday's in-state showdown against Milwaukee Area Technical College saw the Madison College women's basketball team use a season-high 24 free throws to score a 72-61 win in a North Central Community College Conference and Region 4 game inside H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium. Freshman Taylor Ripp's career-best 22 points helped the WolfPack match their highest single-game point total of the season, and boost their scoring average in 2022 to 61.6, up from 52.5 in the 2021 portion of the schedule. The win increases Madison College's lead in the all-time series to 75-14.

Madison College created a little separation in the first quarter and took a 14-7 lead, which was trimmed by just a single point in the second quarter as the home team held a 27-21 advantage at the half. Milwaukee Area Technical College (9-10, 2-2) battled back in the third quarter to tie the game, however, the WolfPack answered with a small run to close the ten-minute session with a four-point lead. The home team truly answered the bell in the fourth with their highest scoring quarter of the season. The two rivals went back-and-forth with Madison College winning the final quarter by a 32-25 margin for the 11-point win.

Ripp, a former Lodi HS athlete, bested her previous high for points in a game by three as she was 8 of 13 overall and 6 for 7 at the free throw line. Her 22-point outburst marks the fourth 20-plus-point performance for the WolfPack this season, and gives Ripp five double-figure scoring efforts in the last six games. She also led the team with eight rebounds and a career-best five steals.

Fellow freshman Lauren Thole also tallied a career-best scoring game with 14 points off the bench. The third ten-plus-point scoring game for the Lancaster, Wisconsin, native was the result of a 4 for 9 effort from the floor and a 6 for 8 mark at the charity stripe. She also had four rebounds, a game-high two blocks, and an assist. 

Also in double figures were Olivia Marron and Laurissa Pickel with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Marron added seven rebounds.

Madison College was 24 of 54 for a shooting percentage of 44.4% that ranks third best in a game this season, while the 24 made free throws is the second time the WolfPack has surpassed the 20-free throw plateau. To cap it off, the 'Pack turned the ball over a season-low nine times.

The two teams will play again on Thursday, February 3 in Milwaukee. 

Up Next:

Madison College (4-14, 2-2) will seek a sweep of a three-game home stand when they host N4C and Region 4 foe Harper College (7-7, 1-1) on Tuesday, February 1 inside H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium. The WolfPack is 18-2 all-time against the Hawks and currently riding a 16-game win streak in the head-to-head series. Tip off is at 7:30 p.m.

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