Ripon High Graduate headed to NCAA Women’s Basketball Sweet 16

Ruth Waters and the Stevens Institute of Technology Ducks head to the NCAA Women’s Basketball Sweet 16

Hometown  – Ripon, CA

Junior Ruth Waters and the Stevens Women’s Basketball team, Hoboken, New Jersey are headed to the Sweet 16, after an impressive win on Saturday night in Canavan Arena against SUNY Geneseo. Waters is a key contributor for the Ducks, and a graduate of Ripon High School, CA.

The Ducks advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history, and moved to 23-6. The Stevens Institute of Technology women’s basketball team moved on to the NCAA Tournament Third Round with a 66-60 win over SUNY-Geneseo Saturday.

Stevens fell behind early and a three point basket by Kayleigh Cavanaugh extended the visitor lead to nine points. A layup by sophomore Megan Brown and a three by senior Dylan Krause trimmed the gap to four, but a pair of Knights free throws established the six point first quarter lead.

Geneseo went up by double digits early in the second, but senior Miranda Ripken scored five straight to cut the lead in half. Ripken hit a pair of free throws with 48 seconds left in the second to get within one, but Kara Houppert hit a layup at the buzzer to extend the lead to three.

The Ducks and Knights traded baskets to open the second half, but a jumper by Astel finally gave the Ducks a lead with 6:30 to go. The lead was short-lived, as Geneseo would go right back on top. Ripken would nail two free throws with five seconds to go in the third to even the game at 54 heading into the final frame.

The teams traded the first eight points of the final quarter before Brown nailed a layup with 4:03 to go. The Knights connected on a pair of free throws to trim the deficit to two with 35 seconds left, but Ripken and Astel each hit a pair of the charity stripe to seal the game.

Astel led all scorers with 21 points, while Ripken was right behind her with 20. Sophomore Anna Toke was a force on the glass, snaring a game-high 14 boards. Junior Erica Guketlov handed out five assists while senior Dylan Krause filled the stat sheet with seven points, eight rebounds, four blocks and three assists.

Stevens is one of four New Jersey Division III teams to make the tournament field of 64. Stevens is the last remaining team playing in the Sweet 16.  The Ducks are headed to Amherst College to take on the #4 team in the country on Friday night.