NEW ULM, Minn. - The Martin Luther College women's basketball team lost its game against Minnesota Morris on Friday by the score of 85-63.

The teams were even in many of the statistical categories, but the Cougars were more efficient on their shooting attempts, making 50.0 percent of their shots from the field and nine of 19 attempts from beyond the arc. MLC shot 34.8 percent overall and 37.5 percent from downtown.

The Cougars built their lead with strong starts to each of the first three quarters. UMM started the game on an 11-0 run, and then opened the second period with a 12-2 run on the way to a 47-29 halftime lead.

UMM put the game away in the third with another run, this one a 13-5 run coming out of the locker room and never allowed the Knights back into the game the rest of the game.

Grace Schultz led MLC with 15 points. Mariah Schoof added 13 points to go with five rebounds. Jessica Friebe led the MLC bench players with eight points.

The Knights fell to 6-12 on the season and 4-6 in UMAC play in defeat. UMM improved to 14-5 overall and 9-1 in UMAC play with the win.

MLC will return to action tomorrow (Saturday, January 28) when it hosts Crown College in a game scheduled to tip off at 3 p.m.