ASHLAND, Wis. - The Martin Luther College women's basketball team earned a tough 54-47 win at Northland on Saturday to improve to 2-0 in UMAC play.

The game was a defensive struggle for both teams, as the Knights finished the game shooting 31.4 percent from the field while the LumberJills shot 32.0 percent. 

Northland led 15-8 after the first quarter, but the Knights continued to chip away they won the next two quarters to cut the deficit to one at 37-36.

In the final period, the Knights took the lead for the last time thanks to a Grace Schultz jumper with eight minutes to play, and built a lead as big as seven points. Northland cut the deficit to three in the final minute, but the Knights held firm on defense, and Schultz made four free throws in the final seconds to ice the game.

Schultz finished with a team-high 19 points, and also led the team with 11 rebounds, six steals and four assists. Moriah Hackbarth also played a key role with 11 points and four steals. 

The Knights improved to 4-6 on the season and 2-0 in UMAC play with the win. Northland dropped to 1-7 overall and 0-1 in league play following the loss.

MLC will return to action on Wednesday, December 13, when it hosts Bethany Lutheran College in a game scheduled to tip off at 7:30 p.m.