ST. BONIFACIUS, Minn. - The Martin Luther College women's basketball team was unable to overcome a slow start in a 67-60 loss at Crown College on Wednesday.

The Knights started the game by making their first two field goals in the opening minute, but was held without a field goal for more than 10 minutes as they fell behind 21-6 early in the second quarter. 

MLC cut the deficit to 30-24 at the half, but the Storm once again pushed the lead into double figures as they closed the third quarter with a 47-34 edge.

The Knights battled to cut the Storm lead to five in the final minutes, but Crown was able to hold them off to secure the seven-point win.

MLC finished the game shooting 32.8 percent while the Storm hit 47.3 percent, including five of their eight attempts from beyond the three-point arc. The Storm also out-rebounded the Knights 46-36.

Jade St. Germaine led MLC with 24 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks. Grace Schuultz added 14 points and seven steals, while Emily Witkowski scored nine points.

MLC fell to 4-13 overall and 2-6 in UMAC play in defeat. Crown improved to 7-9 on the season and 3-5 in league play with the win.

The Knights will return to action on Saturday, January 20, when they host Northland in a game scheduled to tip off at 5 p.m.