Box Score NEW ULM, Minn. – Emily Mehr hit a pair of free throws with under five seconds left in the game as the Cougars (9-7, 6-0 UMAC) escaped with a 60-59 win over the Martin Luther Knights (5-12, 3-3 UMAC) on Friday night. Mehr led the Cougars with 11 points; Kayla Kramer added 10 and three others had nine points. Abby Fragodt had nine points and 13 rebounds nearly missing a double-double.
 
Kendra Wycoff and Kelsey Erickson also had nine points in the game. Minnesota Morris was outshot in the game but made one more three pointer and had two more made free throws in the game to give the Cougars the advantage. UMM outscored the Knights in the paint 18-14 on the night and had 19 free throw attempts in the game. 
 
Martin Luther scored the first four points of the game but Morris responded and tied it at five, three minutes later. The game would remain close through a majority of the first half. Minnesota Morris took a five point lead with just over nine minutes left in the first half, 18-13. The Knights cut the lead to three, twice but both times the Cougars extended the lead back to five. MLC cut the lead to just one with 6:42 left, however Minnesota Morris went on a 10-4 run taking a 32-25 lead with 2:24 left. Martin Luther scored the final four points of the half to cut in to the lead as UMM led 32-29 at half.
 
Fragodt hit a three pointer out of the break and Mehr converted a layup to give the Cougars their largest lead of the game at 37-29. The lead did not last long as Martin Luther scored eight straight points to tie the game up at 37. With the game tied at 39 Morris went on another run of their own scoring nine straight and taking 48-39 lead with 11:44 left; and again MLC came roaring back to score eight straight of their own.
 
The Knights finally overcame the Cougars with 3:32 left as they hit a three pointer to take a 53-52 lead. Erickson would hit two free throws to give UMM the lead back less than thirty seconds later. After a few missed shots for both teams the Knights took the lead back with 2:23 left but once again it was Erickson who converted from the foul line giving Morris the lead back with just over two minutes left. Martin Luther grabbed the lead back on their next possession and held on to the lead until Kramer stole the ball and raced down the court to give UMM the lead at 58-57. The lead lasted just 16 seconds as the Knights came down and grabbed a 59-58 lead with just :21 left. The Cougars got the ball down low on their next possession and Mehr was fouled as she put up a shot and went to the line for a pair of free throws. Emily hit the first to tie the game and then converted on the second one after a MLC timeout giving the Cougars the 60-59 lead. The last chance for the Knights hit of the side of the back board and Minnesota Morris escaped with the win.
 
Tomorrow the Cougars will take on Bethany Lutheran at 3:00 p.m. in Mankato.