NEW ULM, Minn. - The Martin Luther College women's basketball team was unable to slow down Northwestern (Minn.) in a 73-52 loss on Saturday.

The Eagles took a 18-5 lead after one quarter, but first-year forward Emily Witkowski scored 13 points in the second period to help cut the deficit to 34-25 at the half.

UNW would start to create distance in the third quarter when it outscore MLC 21-12 to take an 18-point lead into the fourth quarter, and then held off any comeback attempt from the Knights in the final period to secure the win.

MLC was held to eight field goals in each half and 25.0 percent shooting for the game. UNW shot 53.6 percent from the field to help make up for 18 turnovers and only five offensive rebounds in the game.

Witkowski paced MLC with a career-high 19 points on 6-13 shooting from the field and 3-6 shooting from three-point range. Jade St. Germaine scored 14 points and grabbed a team-best nine rebounds.

MLC fell to 4-11 on the season and 2-5 in UMAC play. UNW improved to 8-7 overall and 5-2 in conference play.

The Knights will return to action on Monday, January 15, when they travel to Macalester for a game scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m.