New Ulm, MN - The MLC women's basketball team took on Minnesota Morris in its UMAC opener on Wednesday evening and played in a tightly contested game with the Cougars before losing in overtime 80-75.

Minnesota Morris took control in the first quarter and went up 22-10 as Gianna Klarenbeek led her team from the outside knocking down four 3-pointers. After MLC struggled to get much going offensively in the first quarter, the Knights heightened their defensive pressure with a full court pressure, forcing multiple turnovers from the Cougars. That adjustment helped get MLC back into the game as the Knights outscored Morris 25-13 in the second.

At halftime the score was tied 35-35 and MLC finished the third period up 55-52 following a pair of 3-pointers by Wilhelmina Wenz and Mya Morris to go up 55-52. There were numerous lead changes in the fourth quarter as each team traded blows. Morris went down with an inury around the 3-minute mark with Minnesota Morris up 68-67. Neither team scored much after that point and the game went into an extra five minutes tied 70-70.

The overtime period didn't see much scoring either as both teams were heavily fatigued. Anna Kieselhorst knocked down a critical jump shot with 39 seconds from straight away to put the Knights up 75-73. However, the Cougars countered with a 3-pointer from the baseline to go up 76-75 with 19 seconds remaining and Minnesota Morris stole the ensuing inbounds pass to go up 78-75 on a breakaway layup.

Despite the slow start to the game, MLC bounced back and got into a rhythm to challenge the Cougars. Mya Morris finished with a game-high 29 points on 10-of-18 shooting and five steals.Wenz added a double-double 11 points, 12 rebounds, while Lydia Feidt led the Knights with 14 boards. Kieselhorst contributed 13 points, five rebounds, and four steals.

MLC will host Crown College on Saturday, January 10, at 1 p.m.