MORRIS, Minn. - For the second time this season the Cougars (7-9, 4-1 UMAC) will play in the UMAC Game of the Week when they host Martin Luther (7-8, 4-1 UMAC) on Friday at 5:30 p.m. The Cougars and Knights are tied for the UMAC lead with a 4-1 record going into the game. WATCH LIVE
 
Since 2009 the Cougars are 8-2 against the Knights but hold just a 3-2 lead in the series in their last five meetings. Last season the Cougars swept the season series with Martin Luther. Emily Auch, who averaged just 5.3 points per game in UMAC games last season, is having a great season for the Cougars, averaging 16 points per game through the first five conference games. Overall she is eighth in the league in scoring with 12.7 points per game.
 
Friday's matchup will feature the fourth and fifth best scoring teams in the UMAC with Martin Luther holding the slight edge. Minnesota Morris is second in scoring defense though, holding opponents to 64.6 points per game. Martin Luther is allowing teams to score 73.9 points per game.
 
On the year the Cougars are 6-1 when scoring at least 65 points this season. They also lead the UMAC in rebound and are third with 15.4 offensive rebounds per game this season. Martin Luther comes into the match up allowing the sixth most points in UMAC play.
 
Saturday the Bethany Lutheran Vikings (5-11, 2-3 UMAC) come to town. The Vikings are 2-3 in conference play this season and coming off a weekend split against Northland and St. Scholastica. They rank second in points per game this season but their 69.8 points per game has seen a drop in over five points since beginning UMAC play. They average 17.6 offensive rebounds per game in UMAC play so the Cougars will do well by cleaning up the glass defensively.