RIPON — Ripon withstood a blistering start by Lathrop’s Loreal Taylor and pulled away in the second half for a 39-30 win in non-league girls basketball action Tuesday .

“She has been the leader for the last three years on this team,” Lathrop coach Ed Fang said of Taylor. “She is outstanding and she works her tail off – day in and day out.

“She gives us what we need inside and maybe some of her intensity will rub off on some of the other girls.”

Taylor went on an 8-0 run including two three-point plays that spotted Lathrop (0-2) to an 8-4 lead which would not be relinquished until late in the first half. The Spartans senior posted a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 14 rebounds, sharing high-point honors with two Indians.

“Tonight went well,” Taylor said. “We could have slowed it down a bit on offense to look for the open shot.”

This was the second win in as many nights for Ripon (3-0), coming of a resounding 52-26 thumping of Tokay on Monday.

“Going back-to-back games is tough,” Indians coach George Contente said. “It does not give us a chance to practice between games.

“But we fought through some things. They were quick and we knew that coming in. At times we played smart, but at times we showed our youth.”

Ripon forced 27 turnovers behind 21 steals and won the battle of the boards, 33-31.

“Our defense is getting better every time,” Contente said.

After Taylor tied the game at 15 to start the second half, Ellie Waters hit a 3-pointer as part of her seven-point third-quarter spurt. The Indians never trailed again with Waters and teammate Morgan Carrico sharing high-point honors with Taylor at 12.

“We all hustled,” Waters said. “It was a quicker team than we faced on Monday and I thought we all played really well.”

For the Spartans, Lauren Collins added nine points and Taylor Conley pulled down 10 rebounds. Kelsey Alexander scored eight points for Ripon while Jill Jamero made five steals with Indians teammates Julia Victor and Alexander adding four steals each. Taylor grabbed seven rebounds.

Sophomore

Ripon 52, Lathrop 15

The Indians were paced by Courtney Slamon with 10 points and Kayln Evans with nine. Terrina Phillips scored seven for the Spartans.

Freshman

Lathrop 34, Ripon 14

Molly Moakler poured in 16 for the Spoartans and Danya Phillips added nine. Felicia Ceja scored seven points for the Indians.