Watertown, WI - The Martin Luther College women's basketball team opened up their game with Maranatha Baptist on a 15-0 run where they forced eight turnovers due to their full court pressure. That hot start proved to be the difference right out the gate and the women defeated the Sabercats 75-36.

The Knights (6-12, 2-5) took advantage of a raucous crowd behind them in the Luther Prep gymnasium, with numerous alumni, parents, and current Prep students/faculty in attendance.

MLC went up 38-16 going into halftime and would then start off the second half with more of the same when they added onto their big lead with a 16-1 run to take a commanding 54-17 lead with 4:30 remaining. 

Head Coach Dan Gawrisch was then able to empty the bench for the remainder of action as all 17 MLC players got to see some playing time. 

Emma Nelson, who student taught at Prep this past semester, received big applause all night from the Prep student section and it carried over into her game, leading the Knights with a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds). Jordyn Heckendorf had 11 points, five assists, and six steals in her 20 minutes on the court, while Lauren Paulsen grabbed 10 boards.

These two teams will battle it out again tomorrow evening, but this time the game will be played at Maranatha Baptist. Tipoff will be at 4 p.m.