MLC scores big win over Northland

By JEN SEAVEY

Journal Sports Editor

NEW ULM -- The Martin Luther College women made history Friday.

They turned on the defensive intensity to defeat Northland College 56-41 and take first place in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (3-0, 8-7) -- Northland is now second (3-1, 7-9).

The women had not beaten Northland College in the eight years since the school became MLC in 1995.

"It feels very good," MLC coach Gene Pfeifer said. "It was one of our goals this year to beat them at least once -- now we need to keep it up."

Leading the Knights in her first double-double of her college career was 5-10 sophomore forward Crystal Mielke; she scored 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.

"Sarah (Gronholz) was feeling a little sick, so Crystal's minutes picked up," Pfeifer said. "It was by far her best game at MLC. She was fantastic both on defense and offense."

The Knights made the first eight points of the game -- the first six within the first two minutes on shots from Beth Ebeling and two by Emma Babinec, who stole the ball and went coast-to-coast on one effort. The Knights kept Northland scoreless for over two minutes as Annie Uecker and Babinec made free throws, and Bethany Bauer hit a three-pointer from the right.

A minute later, Bauer took a pass from Ebeling and hit another from the same spot to bring MLC to an 11 point lead, 22-11.

The Knights increased their lead to 22, 28-16 after a successful offensive play in which Babinec reversed the ball to an open Uecker.

After a series of free throws by both teams, with four seconds on the clock, the Knights took possession and went into halftime up 33-21 when Uecker dribbled down and passed off to Crystal Mielke underneath as the buzzer went off.

At the half, Ebeling had three of the Knights' six steals.

The Knights had a total of 10 steals in the game, while Northland had four. The Knights defense led the game for them.

"We played outstanding defense," Pfeifer said, pointing out that the Knights were a little low on shooting, with 37 percent. "The game was won on defense. All the guards also did a really good job putting pressure on the ball."

"We played awesome defense," Mielke said. "We were up in their faces and never gave up."

Beginning the second half, the Lumberjills snuck up to trail the Knights by just 10 points. The Knights came to lead 38-27 briefly when Crystal Mielke made a three point foul play, putting in a short jumper and the corresponding free throw. Again, Northland snuck up to just eight points behind MLC, but the women held them off. Bauer drove and made a layup, and Babinec put in a shot, bringing the score to 44-32.

After another two scoreless minutes, the Lumberjills pulled up to 48-39, but the Knights kept them out of reach the rest of the game.

After Mielke, Bauer scored 14 points, and Babinec had 11 points and nine rebounds. Lindsey Lesmeister scored 10 for the Lumberjills.

MLC will play three conference games next week. Tuesday at Aberdeen, they play Presentation in what coach Pfeifer says will be a tough game. Thursday, they play Crown away, and Saturday, they take on St. Scholastica at home.