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MLC women fall to UMM 65-49

Staff photo by Steve Muscatello Martin Luther College’s Grace Schultz takes a shot despite pressure from three University of Minnesota Morris defenders during the first half Wednesday at MLC in New Ulm. For more photos of this event go to cu.nujournal.com

NEW ULM — Wednesday’s women’s basketball game was the tale of two halves as the University of Minnesota Morris downed Martin Luther College 65-49 in an Upper Midwest Athletic Conference contest.

MLC did well during the first two quarters, holding a 37-35 halftime advantage. The second half was another story as UMM outscored the Knights 30-12.

MLC scored only 5 points in the third quarter and 7 points in the fourth quarter.

Head coach Dan Gawrisch credited UMM with playing an intense defense. He said the Cougars’ forced the tempo with its great pressure defense, which forced MLC to take shots that didn’t drop.

“Our shot selection wasn’t bad, but it was not great,” Gawrisch said. “Our attitude was phenomenal.”

Emma Atkinson scored to pull UMM within a point early on. Becca Holland scored the next 6 points for the Cougars to give them the lead in the first quarter.

Jade St. Germaine got MLC’s next 4 points. Elli Stevenson canned a 3-point shot to give UMM a 22-20 lead after one quarter.

Crystal Carmichael fed the ball to St.Germaine who scored with 4:35 left in the half. St. Germaine then hit a free throw to increase MLC’s lead to 30-25.

UMM’s Bailey Miller attempted a 3-point shot and was fouled. Miller converted two of three free throws to tie the game with less than a minute to go in the first half.

Grace Schultz got the lead back for MLC on a fast-break layup, making it 37-35 at halftime.

Abby Van Kempen’s basket gave UMM the lead. St.Germaine then hit a basket to tie it at 39-39.

Kendra Raths’ inside hoop gave UMM the lead for good at 41-39 early in the third quarter. Stevenson scored a basket and got a fast-break layup off a steal. Schultz brought MLC to within three on a free throw. Stevenson scored two more baskets to lift the Cougars’ lead to 47-40.

Sarah Dewey dropped two free throws which would be the final points of the quarter for MLC. Raths’ two free throws, Miller’s basket and a Stevenson free throw widened UMM’s advantage to 52-42 after three quarters.

Thiesen’s 3-point shot increased UMM’s lead to 55-42 in the fourth. Schultz answered with a 3-pointer of her own with 8:15 left in the game.

St. Germaine scored on an inside shot which further cut into UMM’s lead. Stevenson hit one to put UMM in front 62-47.

Schultz got MLC’s final points on a basket with 35 seconds left.

Gawrisch said Faith Otte played as a point guard and did a great job of running the offense. He called UMM “a good offensive team with a great pressure offense.”

MLC hit only 18 of 70 shots for 25.7 percent. It was 30 percent from 3-point range and 7 of 12 from the free throw line.

UMM had 21 turnovers, while MLC had 14. UMM hit 23 of 49 shots for 46.9 percent, 3 of 8 from 3-point range for 37.5 percent and 16 of 24 from the free-throw line.

St. Germaine and Schultz each scored 13 points for the Knights. St. Germaine added seven rebounds and three assists while Schultz had six rebounds, five steals and two assists.

MLC (4-10, 2-4) will host Northwestern on Saturday.

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