RIPON — Back-to-back 3-pointers to end the third quarter and two more to start the fourth helped make up a 15-4 Ripon run that allowed the Indians to go on and defeat host Ripon Christian 50-43 on Thursday in Trans-Valley League action. 

In addition to the scoring blitz, Ripon (5-0 TVL, 14-4 overall) drastically reduced their turnovers, tallying just five in the second half after 13 in the first.

“If we control the basketball we do a much better job of scoring,” Indians coach Rick Inderbitzin said. “Throughout the second half we only had five turnovers as opposed to the 13 in the first half and that was huge. Every possession counts in games like this because all the TVL teams are tough. 

“Ripon Christian did a nice job. They played hard and got a lot of 50-50 balls and they out-hustled us at times.”

With the score tied at 29 and 35 seconds left in the third quarter, Reina Sausedo and Mia Culver drained a pair of 3-pointers to end the period. Sausedo hit two more early in the fourth quarter and finished with a double-double of 23 points and 10 steals. Five of those steals came in the fourth quarter and were part of a stellar defensive effort that forced 27 turnovers. 

“It was tough for them to get though our press because they were rushing too much,” Sausedo said. “My teammates and I were able to anticipate their passes.”

Tianna Sidtikun added five steals to the Ripon total of 23. 

“We knew they were going to be strong,” Sidtikun said. “And we were able to jump their passes off of our press.”

After falling behind 11-1 to start the game the Knights (2-3, 10-9) battled back to come within 15-13 at the end of the first quarter with Ariel Vander Woude (15 points, eight rebounds) scoring the last five points of the period for Ripon Christian. 

The Knights had a two-point lead in the second quarter and a one-point lead in the third but were unable to hold either one. 

“We got down 11-1 in the first quarter and kind of chased that all night,” Ripon Christian coach Ed Mulder said. “They picked up the intensity of their press in the fourth quarter and we didn’t handle it well. But that 10 points at the beginning is what I want back.

“We fought back to trail by one at halftime but it’s tough when you are going against the first-place team. We lost Reina (Sausedo) a few times and she is the real deal. It is hard to stop her.”

Savannah Clark added 10 points for the Indians and Renae Heida chipped in nine points and 13 rebounds for the Knights. 

Sophomore

Ripon 52,

Ripon Christian 25

Myra Toledo led the Indians with 15 points and Lilly Mejia chipped in 14.

Sarah Brown paced the Knights with 11 points.