ST. PAUL - The Martin Luther College women's basketball team struggled on offense in a 68-49 loss at Northwestern on Saturday.

The Knights, playing without leading scorer and rebounder Jade St. Germaine, were held to 27.1 percent shooting from the field and committed 19 turnovers in the game. 

The MLC defense held UNW to 39.7 percent shooting from the field and 5-21 from beyond the three-point arc, but the offense was unable to take advantage.

The Eagles led 35-21 at the half, but put the game away in the third period by outscoring MLC 19-7, and holding the Knights to only three field goals in the quarter on the way to taking a 54-28 lead into the final quarter.

Mariah Schoof led MLC with 12 points, all on three-point field goals, and also grabbed six rebounds. Grace Schultz joined her in double figures with 11 points and also grabbed a team-high ten rebounds. Haleigh Weiers scored eight points and made two of three attempts from beyond the arc off the bench. 

MLC fell to 5-10 on the season and 4-4 in UMAC play in defeat. UNW improved to 9-6 overall and 6-2 in league play with the win.

The Knights will return to action on Tuesday, January 17, when they travel to Viterbo for a non-conference game scheduled to tip off at 5:30 p.m.