DULUTH, Minn. - The Martin Luther College women's basketball team opened the new year with a 74-39 loss at St. Scholastica on Wednesday.

The Knights started slow, but rallied to cut the deficit to 15-9 at the end of the first quarter. The Saints continued to push in the second quarter, however, and closed the first half with a 36-18 lead.

MLC scored 17 points in the third quarter to remain within striking distance, but went cold from the field to start the fourth quarter as the Saints pulled away to secure the win.

Turnovers were an issue for the Knights, as CSS turned 22 MLC miscues into 20 points. The Saints finished the game shooting 43.6 percent from the field, and also outscored MLC 15-6 from beyond the three-point arc.

Kati Aguilar led MLC with 11 points and nine rebounds. Faith Otte added seven points and a team-best six assists.

MLC fell to 1-11 on the season and 1-4 in UMAC play in defeat. CSS improved to 2-9 overall and 2-3 in league play with the win.

The Knights will return to action on Saturday, January 5, when they host Coe College in a non-conference game scheduled to tip off at 2 p.m.