NEW ULM, Minn. - The Martin Luther College women's basketball team lost its first conference game of the season by the score of 79-68 to Bethany Lutheran on Wednesday.

The Knights matched the Vikings from beyond the three-point arc and made two more field goals, but the Vikings finished the game 25-29 from the free throw line compared to 10-17 for MLC. BLC guard Haley Sandin especially took advantage of the charity stripe by making 17 of 18 on the way to a game-high 30 points. 

BLC led 27-23 after the first quarter and 43-33 at the half. To start the third quarter, the Vikings opened things up from the outside, making five of eight from three-point range to push the lead to 19 points after three quarter. 

MLC continued to battle and cut the deficit to 11 in the final period, but was never able to get the BLC back into single digits. 

Grace Schultz finished with an MLC-high 21 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and five steals in 38 minutes Jade St. Germaine scored 16 points to go with nine rebounds, helping the Knights out-rebound the Vikings 46-40 overall and 22-8 on the offensive glass. Sydney Cody came off the bench to add 10 points and four rebounds.

MLC fell to 4-7 on the season and 2-1 in UMAC play in defeat. BLC improved to 7-2 overall and 2-1 in league play with the win.

The Knights will return to action on Saturday, December 16, when they travel to UW-Superior for a game scheduled to tip off at 5 p.m.