MANKATO, Minn. - The Martin Luther College women's basketball team lost to first-place Bethany Lutheran College 97-64 on Wednesday.

The Vikings took control from the start and built a 30-12 lead after the first quarter. 

The Knights battled back in the second quarter, out-scoring BLC 21-16 to cut the halftime deficit to 13 points (46-33), but the Vikings were able to put the game away with a 32-point third quarter on the way to the win.

The Vikings were efficient on offense throughout the game and shot 50.0 percent from the field despite shooting 5-21 from beyond the three-point arc. MLC shot 33.8 percent for the game.

Emily Witkowski finished with a game-high 18 points and tied Cassandra Rose for the team lead with seven rebounds. Kortney Behnke and Emily Rothfuss each scored 10 points for MLC.

The Knights fell to 1-17 on the season and 1-9 in UMAC play in defeat. BLC improved to 16-2 overall and 9-1 in league play with the win.

MLC will return to action on Saturday, February 1, when it hosts Northland College in a game scheduled to tip off at 4:45 p.m.