New Ulm, MN - The MLC women's basketball squad defeated North Central twice last season in closely contested games. The women looked to repeat that the same success this time around and hung in with the Rams through the first period, but the Rams found an extra gear in the second half off the shoulders of their backcourt to beat the Knights 96-69.

The Knights stayed within striking distance at the break down 49-37 at the break, but the Rams outscored MLC 49-32 in the second half and finished the game shooting 52.6 percent from the field and had a lot of good looks from deep and converted on 14-of-23 from outside (60.9 percent). The Rams would score a season-best 96 points and started to pull away from MLC at the 4:09 mark when NiNi Davenport connected on a 3-point jump shot. 

The Rams also made high quality shots in the paint, as Kaitlyn VanderPloeg led the charge in this area with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

MLC would also have a season-high in points scored (69) despite the loss, as Jordyn Heckendorf and Grace Kieselhorst scored 14 points apiece. Anna Kieselhorst also gave a nice effort and dropped 11 points on 50 percent shooting. The Knights shot 38.2 percent from the floor as a unit.

The Knights will get another crack at North Central two months from now, but until then they will go back to nonconference play and play their last game before the New Year when they head to Buena Vista on Wednesday, December 13. The game is planned to start at 5:30, as the Knights search for their third win of the season.