New Ulm, Minn. – After suffering their first loss in conference play in over two years last month, the Minnesota Morris women's basketball team paid the culprit back tonight (Feb. 3), handing host Martin Luther their first conference loss of the season with a 70-63 decision.

Morris remains one game back of Martin Luther in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) standings, as the Knights had a two-game cushion heading into the weekend. Martin Luther came into the game riding a nine-game winning streak, the longest such in the conference.

The Cougars (11-8, 7-2 UMAC) once again overcame a deficit – just as they did last Friday night – trailing by as much as six in the first half, before seizing control of the game. With just over six minutes left, a Kendra Wycoff three-pointer pulled the scored even at 19-all, and one possession later it was again Wycoff with the basket to give the Cougars their first lead.

After the Knights' (14-6, 8-1 UMAC) Erica Babinec tied it back up at 21-21, Emily Mehr put the Cougars up for good with two of her game high 17.

Mehr continued her hot stretch of late, marking her ninth straight game with at least 15 points, while also upping her season average to 15.7 per game in the process. The highest it's been since the third game of the season.

Wycoff also finished in double figures with 14, while Babinec of the Knights was held well below her average with just eight points. She entered the game averaging better than 15 points per game.

The basket by Mehr was the start of eight straight for the Cougars, before another Wycoff three capped an 11-to-2 run to give the Cougars a 32-23 lead with just 3:13 left. Morris would take a 34-28 led into the half, and never trailed in the second, going up by double-digits after another Wycoff basket at the 14:28 mark made it 42-32.

Their largest lead came just a minute later on an Abby Fragodt lay-up at the 13:36 mark, as the Cougars went up 45-34.

The Knights were still able to make it a little interesting, getting back to within two points on two occasions, the last time with 3:05 left after two Brittney Gossen free throws. Mehr answered just seconds later, however, hitting a three to go back up five at 62-57, and it was at least a two possession game the rest of the way.

Fragodt finished with her first double-double of the season, scoring 10 points to go along with 12 rebounds, tying her career in high in boards for the third straight game, and fifth time overall. She has also notched double-digit rebounds in each of the Cougars last five games.

The Cougars will now need to keep their current two-game winning streak alive and hope for some help as they look to gain a share of their third straight UMAC title. They'll start with Bethany Lutheran tomorrow at 5:00 p.m.