RIPON, Wis. – Cornell concluded a successful women's basketball season in the semifinals of the Midwest Conference Tournament Friday night, falling 78-47 to top-seeded Ripon at Weiske Gymnasium.
 
Picked sixth in the MWC Preseason Coaches' Poll, the young Rams locked up the No. 4 seed after winning their final two games of the regular season. Coach Brent Brase's squad finished 14-11 overall, 10-6 in MWC play.
 
Forward Erin Knowles, one of three first-year players in Cornell's starting lineup, notched the fifth double-double of her terrific season with 18 points and 10 rebounds. She shot 10-of-10 from the foul line and improved her school-record season points total to 479.
 
Fellow freshman Reagan Wells buried four 3-point goals and finished with 14 points. First-year Hailey Testolin provided seven points off Cornell's bench.
 
Ripon (22-4) extended its winning streak to 13 games and will play host to No. 3 seed Grinnell (19-7) in Saturday's championship at 3 p.m. for the MWC's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
 
The Red Hawks opened the contest on a 12-2 run, although Cornell pulled within 15-11 after one quarter. Still tight midway through the second period, Ripon broke it open with 13 unanswered points to take a 37-17 lead.
 
Cornell made all 12 free throws it attempted on the night, although couldn't overcome 20 turnovers that Ripon converted into 32 points.
 
Ella Ten Pas paced the Red Hawks with 13 points and 13 rebounds.