APPLETON, Wis. -- The Lawrence University women's basketball team dropped a tough 50-46 Midwest Conference decision to Ripon College on Wednesday at Alexander Gymnasium.
    The two teams were battling to remain atop the league standings as both entered the contest with identical 6-1 marks in the conference.
    Lawrence (12-5, 6-2 MWC) got a career-high 16 points from sophomore guard Kate Adams, who went 5-for-7 from the floor and 5-for-6 from the foul line. Adams also added five rebounds, three blocks and two steals. 
    Mallory Meyer added 10 points as she hit 4-of-6 shots from the floor, and she picked up two rebounds and two assists for the Vikings. Charlotte Brennan added eight points and three assists for Lawrence.
    Ella Ten Pas led Ripon (13-4, 7-1) with 13 points. 
    In a defensive struggle, Lawrence limited Ripon to 35.8 percent shooting from the floor, including 0-for-6 from 3-point range, and forced 18 Red Hawk turnovers. 
    The game was tight throughout with 12 lead changes, but Ripon led 33-30 heading to the fourth quarter. The Vikings rallied and got back-to-back layups from Sophie Morey and Adams to take a 36-35 lead. Following an Olivia Kesti block of Ripon's Karsyn Nelson, Adams followed with a fastbreak layup, and the Vikings led 38-35. 
    The lead changed hands multiple times down the stretch, and Meyer's layup off a feed from Adams put the Vikings up 46-45 with 1:42 left. Anna Fahrney hit a jumper to give Ripon a one-point lead, and the teams then traded misses before Lawrence called timeout with 36 seconds left.
    The Vikings turned it over on that possession and then fouled Laney Havlovitz, who converted two free throws with 30 seconds left for a 49-46 lead. Meyer then missed a 3-pointer with 13 seconds left, and Lawrence was forced to foul. Havlovitz made one free throw for a four-point edge with four seconds left to seal the victory.   
    Lawrence returns to action on Saturday when the Vikings travel to Monmouth College.