MORRIS, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Morris women's basketball team battled with the Martin Luther College Knights in their first UMAC matchup of the season. The Cougars fell just shy of victory, falling 55-61 to their conference opponents. 

Minnesota Morris faced a scoring deficit early in the game, getting down 4-12 with four minutes remaining in the first quarter. Itzel Salazar kicked off a 4-9 scoring run for the Cougars with a three pointer and quickly followed it up with a steal and a layup. Shelby Mortenson knocked down two shots in the paint as well in the scoring run, and the Cougars trailed by just three at the end of the first quarter. The Knights expanded their lead in the second quarter by outscoring the Cougars 15-7. Martin Luther's defense kept Minnesota Morris at bay, allowing a 31-20 lead for the visiting team heading into halftime.

Savanna Pelzer and Salazar each knocked down a triple to open the scoring for the Cougars in the third quarter, closing the scoring gap to just six points. Pelzer hit a second three to maintain the six point gap with five minutes remaining in the quarter but the Knights commanded their lead and stayed up by ten heading into the final quarter of the game. Maddy Grove took command of the game for Minnesota Morris in the fourth quarter, scoring eight of the team's 20 points and looked to bring the Cougars back into the lead. Unfortunately, the home team struggled to find the bottom of the net and still faced a six point deficit at the end of the game.

Grove and Salazar each had 15 points on the night for Minnesota Morris. Salazar also added five rebounds and three steals for the Cougars. Pelzer had seven points of her own and nabbed five rebounds. Claire Stark led the Cougars with six rebounds on the night. 

The Cougars will jump back into action Jan. 11 at Northland College. The conference matchup is slated for a 2:45 pm tip-off in Ashland, Wis.