NEW ULM, Minn. – In the final game of Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) play North Central University women's basketball (6-18, 3-13 UMAC) fell to Martin Luther College (10-15, 8-8 UMAC), 78-61, on Saturday afternoon. Lizzy Swanson (Askov, Minn./East Central) led the Rams with 16 points and went 3-for-4 from the free throw line. Annabel Morrisroe (Cloquet, Minn./Cloquet) scored 13 points and had 8 rebounds in the loss. A strong third quarter saw the Knights outscored the Rams 32-19 and moved the Knights into the win column.

How It Happened

First Quarter: The Knights jumped out to a 6-2 lead before the Rams closed it within three, 10-7 halfway through the first period of play. A final shot of the quarter by Rachel Stevenson (Woodbury, Minn./PACT) closed the game within one, 15-14 to end the first ten minutes.

Second Quarter: During the first minutes of the second quarter the Rams were held to only one basket and a made free throw attempt from Swanson in the points category. Through the halfway mark of the period the Knights completed a 17-6 point run over the Rams. However, the final four minutes of the half the Rams only gave up basket to the Knights. The Knights led at half 34-29.

Third Quarter: After the halftime the break, the Knights came out firing hitting all five attempts. Turnovers and fouls plagued the Rams in the third quarter and helped give the Knights a 13 point advantage, 50-37, halfway through the quarter. 

Fourth Quarter: Strong defense by the Knights helped keep the Rams off the scoreboard in the final four minutes of play. Swanson had seven of her 16 points in the final ten minutes of the game.

Up Next: The Rams will travel to Hancock, Mich. for a rescheduled contest with Finlandia University on Mon. Feb. 20. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. CST.