MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's dynamic first-year duo of Erin Knowles and Reagan Wells combined for 34 points in Tuesday's 77-54 women's basketball loss to Midwest Conference leader Ripon at Weiske Gymnasium.
 
The Red Hawks (18-4 overall, 12-1 MWC) built an 18-point halftime lead and hurried Cornell into 23 total turnovers in stretching their winning streak to nine games. The Rams (12-9 overall, 8-5 MWC) remain in postseason contention, now in a tie with Knox for fourth place in the league with three games to go.   
 
Knowles reached her season scoring average against the MWC's No. 1 defense with 18 points. It was the 13th game the 6-foot-1 forward has gone for at least 18 points in her rookie campaign. Knowles also grabbed a team-high five rebounds.  
 
Wells drained four 3-pointers and finished with 16 points, reaching double figures for the 11th time this season. Wells and Knowles combined to shoot 11-of-21 from the field.
 
Ripon took advantage of its size to claim a 38-25 advantage on the boards. The Red Hawks scored 42 points in the paint, to Cornell's 14.
 
The Rams battled in the second half and put up 32 points on 10-of-22 shooting from the field. Cornell went 15-of-18 from the foul line for the game.
 
MWC Player of the Year candidate Ella Ten Pas collected 18 points and 13 rebounds to pace Ripon.
 
Coming up – Cornell is on the road Saturday to face second-place Lawrence (16-6 overall, 10-3 MWC) at 1 p.m. in Appleton, Wis. Lawrence won the first meeting, 61-57.