NEW ULM, Minn. - The Martin Luther College women's basketball team opened the new year with a 71-56 win over Northland College on Friday.

The Knights put together their best offensive performance of the season to date, shooting 42.9 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from beyond the three-point arc in the win.

MLC dominated the game from open to close, never trailing and building the lead as high as 28 points late in the third period.

The Knights led 44-25 at the half, shooting 47.2 percent from the field and holding the Lumberjills to 26.5 percent. 

After finishing the third quarter with a 62-39 deficit, the Lumberjills tried to come back in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to 14 points at one point, but the Knights held strong down the stretch on the way to the 15-point victory.

Faith Schroeder and Jade St. Germaine controlled the game in the paint for MLC, scoring 22 and 14 points, respectively, and also grabbing 14 rebounds apiece. 

Grace Schultz did the work on the wing for MLC, scoring 18 points and also leading the team with five assists and three steals. 

The Knights improved to 3-9 overall and 3-3 in UMAC play with the win, while Northland fell to 4-9 on the season and 2-5 in league play in defeat. 

MLC will return to action tomorrow (Saturday, January 7) when it hosts Finlandia in a game scheduled to start at 3 p.m.