RIPON, Wis. - Ripon's women's basketball team clinched their first Midwest Conference Championship since 2009 on Saturday, defeating Knox College 66-40 to finish tied atop the MWC standings and earn a share of the title with Cornell College. After a coin flip by the conference commissioner to break the tie, it was also decided that Ripon will be the host for next weekend's MWC Tournament.

The Red Hawks (17-7, 14-2 MWC) were led by its defense Saturday, as they held Knox to just 22 percent (11-51) shooting, including 16 percent (4-25) in the first half. Knox also finished the game shooting seven percent (1-13) from 3-point range. Ripon also forced 18 turnovers, including 10 steals, while also blocking six shots.

Knox (16-8, 11-5 MWC) scored the game's first three points, before Ripon's defense tightened up and did not allow a single point in the next nine minutes, helping the Red Hawks end the opening quarter on a 15-2 run. That gave Ripon a 10-point lead entering the second period, which saw Ripon continue their dominance with a 13-3 run in the first six minutes to take a 20-point lead. A Maggie Oimoen basket in the final seconds of the quarter gave Ripon a 22-point halftime lead.

Ripon led by double digits for the entire second half, leading by as many as 28 points. The Red Hawks finished the game shooting 40 percent (24-60) from the field and 50 percent (6-12) from 3-point range. Ripon also held the rebounding edge by a 48-31 advantage, while outscoring Knox in the paint by a 36-16 margin.

Oimoen led the Red Hawks with game-highs of 26 points on 11-of-22 shooting and nine rebounds (four offensive), despite playing just 20 minutes off the bench. Emma McDonald added 15 points on 5-of-7 from 3-point range, while Laurissa Johnson led all players with seven assists.

Knox was led by a 14-point effort from Jarrelyn McCall. Taliah Ellis chipped in with nine points, five rebounds, and three steals.

Ripon will now extend their hospitality next week, as they'll host the MWC Tournament at The Willmore Center in Ripon on February 23-24. As the top seed in the tourney, the Red Hawks will play fourth-seeded Lake Forest at 7 p.m. on Friday, February 23. The other semifinal that day will be at 5 p.m., which will feature Cornell and Knox. The winner of those games will play Saturday, February 24 at 3 p.m. in the MWC Tournament Championship Game for a chance to earn an automatic bid to the 2018 NCAA Division-III Tournament.