MORRIS, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris women's basketball team struggled at times on Thursday night against a Martin Luther College team eager to make up for a 39-point loss to the Cougars just two nights ago. Though the game was more challenging the second time around, UMN Morris slowly pulled away for a 73-63 victory over the Knights in a non-conference game at Jim Gremmels Court. The win improves the Cougars to 4-2 on the season.

An opening 14-2 run from Minnesota Morris out of the gates made it seem like it would be another walk in the park. The largest lead of the night for the Cougars would come with less than nine minutes elapsed as Maddie Smart laid one in after a steal from Jay Kwateh for a 26-10 edge. UMN Morris would then carry a 28-13 lead into the second quarter.

An offense that couldn't be stopped in the first 10 minutes went suddenly ice cold in the second quarter. Martin Luther took advantage of a long offensive drought from Minnesota Morris to go on a 10-0 run, making it 29-23 halfway through the frame. After the Cougars pushed the lead to eight, the Knights responded with an 8-0 run to tie the score at 33-33. A late jumper from Lexus Eagle Chasing just before the half gave UMN Morris a 37-35 lead midway through the contest.

Haley Wollschlager opened the second half with a triple, upping the lead to five points and Martin Luther would never again pull level, though the Knights made it too close for comfort throughout much of the third quarter. Eagle Chasing accounted for six straight points for the Cougars in the final minutes of the quarter and a pair of free throws from Jadyn Sondrol made it 60-52 with 10 minutes remaining.

Martin Luther got as close as five points in the fourth quarter, but with the Knights threatening, Sondrol connected on a clutch three-pointer to kick off an 8-0 run that made it a 70-57 game and essentially ended MLC's hopes of the upset. 

Eagle Chasing led all scorers with 22 points in the contest. Sondrol added 13 and both Wollschlager and Ella Van Kempen had 11. Malory Anderson scored four points and had a team-high nine rebounds off the bench. On Senior Night, Maddie Fenske contributed four points and three blocked shots.

Next up for the Cougars is a Feb. 20 matchup against Bethany Lutheran College in the UMAC Game of the Week. Tip time in Mankato is slated for 3 p.m.