Yellowjackets 69, Ripon 60
Box Score

The Yellowjacket women's basketball team got the 2012-13 season off to a strong start, winning their season opener in the first game of the Ripon Tournament, 69-60 over the host Red Hawks.

The Yellowjackets fell behind early but eventually came back to take their first lead of the game, 9-8 on a three-pointer by Kristen Nett (Green Bay, Wis./Bay Port) with 15:11 to play in the half.  The lead extended to six  at 18-12 on a jumper by Deandra Vavra (Cambridge, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti).  The Red Hawks regained the lead, but the Yellowjackets rallied and once again jumped ahead when Kailee McDonald (Cambridge, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti) hit a three-pointer with two minutes left in the half.  Vavra hit another jumper late and that provided the Yellowjackets with enough offense to lead by a point, 29-28 at the half.

In the second half the Yellowjackets opened with a 12 point run, led by Hillary Peterson (Sturgeon Lake, Minn./Moose Lake) who scored six of those points, to lead 41-28.  The lead crested with 15:03 to play in the half when a jumper by Vanessa Lebens (Roseville, Minn./Roseville Area) dropped to make the score 48-30.  The Yellowjacket edge remained in double figures for most of the second half.  The Red Hawks made a run late but never got back to within nine points.

Nett and Vavra led the offense with 13 points each, while Sally Linzmeier (Valders, Wis./Valders) contributed ten points as the Yellowjackets shot 43.9% from the field.  The Yellowjackets were fabulous from behind the arc, shooting 77.8% on 7-of-9.  Nett was the leading Yellowjacket from three-point territory, going 3-of-4.  Lebens and Cansis Bodsberg (Rice Lake, Wis./Boyceville) added six points each off the bench.

The Yellowjackets grabbed 32 rebounds, led by Peterson with five while Linzmeier, Nett and McDonald had four each.  Vavra led the Yellowjackets with five assists, while Peterson had two blocks and Linzmeier had five steals, both team highs.

Jill Van Eperen scored 15 points while Erin Lind scored 14 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead Ripon.

The Yellowjackets (1-0, 0-0 WIAC) advance to the championship game of the tournament where they will take on the University of Chicago.  Game time is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 17.