Ripon Red Hawks Aim for Success in 2025-26 Basketball Season
The Ripon College Red Hawk women’s basketball team is gearing up for the 2025-26 season. They’re hoping to build on their legacy of seven straight Midwest Conference championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances in the past four years.
With standout players like Ella Ten Pas graduating, the team faces a fresh set of challenges. Head coach Lauren Busalacchi will guide them as they retool and adapt to a new lineup.
This season’s going to test the team’s depth and athleticism. There’s a lot of curiosity about who’ll step up in these new roles.
New Season, New Challenges
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The Red Hawks enter the 2025-26 season needing to fill gaps left by key graduates. Losing Ella Ten Pas, a two-time Midwest Conference Player of the Year, hits hard.
Other seniors moving on include Bella Opelt, Alexis Joyner, Anna Fahrney, Vanessa Solano, and Bree Miller. Coach Busalacchi admits it’s tough to replace players like these, but she’s optimistic about the squad that’s coming back.
Key Returning Players
Despite the losses, several returning players are expected to take on bigger roles:
- Seniors: Sophie Schlieve, Molly Johannes, Maggie Glaus, Presley Buwalda, Natalie Rauwolf, and McKenzie Bestor
- Juniors: Laney Havlovitz
- Sophomores: Alex Stricker, Sarah Trzinski, Karsyn Nelson, and Halle Van Horn
These players have plenty of experience. They’ve shown real grit in practice, too.
Laney Havlovitz averaged 10.1 points per game last season and looks poised to lead. Halle Van Horn chipped in 9 points per game as a freshman, which is no small feat.
Natalie Rauwolf and Karsyn Nelson also made solid contributions, averaging 7.3 and 6.5 points per game. There’s a sense that this core group is ready for the spotlight.
Adjusting Strategies and Goals
Coach Busalacchi wants the team to adjust their strategies on both ends of the court. Without their usual post presence, they’ll need to get creative in the paint and on defense.
The returning post players, who practiced against Ten Pas, will play a big part in this transition. There’s a lot riding on their ability to step up.
Offensive Adjustments
Offensively, the team plans to improve ball movement and create more space for passes. They want to score earlier in the shot clock.
Shooting from three-point range was a struggle last season. The incoming freshmen—Cali Havlovitz, Moriah Sears, Naomi Rikkola, and Payton Perea—could help boost their consistency from deep.
Defensive Adjustments
On defense, the Red Hawks are working on quicker rotations and better rebounding. The returning guards bring a lot of athleticism and quickness, which should help.
Making smarter decisions with the ball and improving timing will be key. The coaching staff is focusing on these details in practice.
Upcoming Challenges and Goals
Ripon College starts the season with some tough non-conference games. They’ll face teams like the University of Wisconsin-Stout, UW-Eau Claire, Edgewood, Wheaton, St. Norbert, UW-Platteville, and Carroll.
These early games should give everyone a clearer idea of where the team stands. There’s always something to learn from facing strong competition right out of the gate.
Key Non-Conference Games
- Bluegold Tip-off Tournament: University of Wisconsin-Stout and UW-Eau Claire
- Additional Non-Conference Games: Edgewood (Nov. 12), Wheaton (Nov. 18), St. Norbert (Nov. 20), UW-Platteville (Nov. 25), Carroll (Nov. 29)
Only the Wheaton game will be played at Ripon’s Willmore Center. The team’s also got an exhibition lined up against Division 1 UW-Milwaukee.
Later in December, they’ll compete against UW-Superior and the University of Minnesota Morris at the BSN Classic in Oshkosh (Dec. 28-29). It’s a packed schedule, no doubt.
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Conference Play
The Red Hawks open conference play on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at Beloit. They’ll focus on improving defensive rotations, rebounding, scoring earlier, and making better decisions with the ball.
Conclusion
This season’s shaping up to be a real test for the Ripon College Red Hawks. They’re facing the challenge of losing some key players, which is never easy.
Still, there’s a blend of seasoned returners and some freshmen who look promising. That combo could help the team keep its legacy alive—though, honestly, nothing’s guaranteed in college sports.
If you’re curious for more details or want to keep tabs on how things unfold, check out the Ripon Press.
Coach Busalacchi says the real key is playing for each other and building strong relationships. It sounds simple, but that’s what could make or break their season.