NEW ULM, Minn. - The Martin Luther College women's basketball team started the new year strong with a 74-41 win over Mount Mary University on Thursday.

The Knights were in control from start to finish, as Erika Gosch made a three-point field goal 19 seconds into the opening quarter and MLC led the rest of the way.

MLC led 21-9 after the first quarter, and then took a 35-15 advantage into halftime thanks to a suffocating defensive effort that held the Blue Angels to only six field goals in the first two periods.

The Knights posted their second 20-point quarter in the third period, building a 57-30 lead before pushing the lead to the final 33-point margin in the fourth quarter.

Depth played a major factor for the Knights as 13 of 16 players scored in the game. The MLC bench outscored the Blue Angels 31-0, with Maya Price leading the reserve unit with 10 points and a career-best 14 rebounds in only 18 minutes of work.

The Knights also dominated on the glass, outrebounding Mount Mary 64-28 and holding a 15-2 edge in second-chance points.

Gosch finished as the Knights' leading scorer with 18 points to go with a team-high five assists. As a team, MLC assisted on 21 of 27 made field goals for the game.

Emma Nelson and Anna Treder combined for 11 points, 17 rebounds and five steals down low for the Knights.

MLC improved to 3-8 on the season with the win. Mount Mary fell to 0-14 in defeat.

The Knights will return to action on Saturday, January 8, when they host Bethany Lutheran for a game scheduled to start at 1 p.m.