ASHLAND, Wis. - The Martin Luther College women's basketball team lost in heart-breaking fashion on a buzzer-beater at Northland by the score of 69-68 Saturday.

The Knights led 34-32 at the half, and built a six-point 44-38 lead midway through the third quarter, but the Lumberjills roared back with a 17-2 run, holding the Knights scoreless for nearly five minutes on the way to taking a 55-49 lead into the fourth quarter.

MLC would come back, taking advantage of its size down low, but Northland continued to hang around.

Erin Schmeling made two big free throws with 30 seconds remaining to give MLC a one-point lead at 68-67, and forced a Northland missed field goal with 12 seconds to play, but the Lumberjills were able to get the offensive rebound to keep possession. In the final seconds, the ball found Northland's McKayla Waggoner at the top of the key, and she made the jump shot as time expired to send the Knights home with a loss.

Schmeling finished with a team-high 16 points for MLC, and made nine of her ten attempts from the free throw line. She was joined in double figures by Faith Schroeder and Jade St. Germaine, who scored 13 and 12 points, respectively. Mariah Schoof led the Knights with five assists.

MLC fell to 4-6 on the season and 2-2 in UMAC play in defeat. Northland improved its record to 4-4 overall and 2-3 in league play with the win.

The Knights will return to action tomorrow (Sunday, January 3), when they travel to Finlandia for a game scheduled to tip off at 5 p.m.