NEW ULM, Minn. - Defense led the way once again as the Martin Luther College women's basketball team defeated North Central 62-50 on Friday.

The Knights were in control throughout, thanks to a strong defensive effort that held the Rams to below 30 percent shooting from the field in both the first and second halves.

NCU finished the game shooting 29.3 percent from the field, and made just two of 15 attempts from beyond the three-point arc.

MLC did a particularly strong job on the Rams' Lizzy Swanson, who entered the game second in the UMAC in points per game. The Knights' Jessica Friebe and Grace Schultz teamed up to hold the sophomore to 11 points on 4-20 shooting from the field, while the rest of the team controlled the glass and the rest of the NCU roster.

MLC led 26-23 at the half, and began to pull away early in the fourth quarter as they finally pushed the cushion into double digits with a 10-2 run. The Rams continued to fight, but the Knights were strong at the free throw line down the stretch to finish off the win.

Three MLC players finished in double figures, led by Schultz with 13 points. Erin Schmeling added 11 points, while Moriah Hackbarth scored ten to go with three steals.

The Knights controlled the glass and the paint, out-rebounding the Rams 47-35 and out-scoring them 34-24 in the paint.

MLC improved its record to 6-6 overall and 3-2 in conference play with the win. NCU fell to 3-8 on the season and 1-4 in the UMAC win defeat.

The Knights will return to action tomorrow (Saturday, January 9) when they host Northwestern in a game scheduled to tip off at 5 p.m.