Knights advance

By PAUL DUNLAP

Journal Sports Editor

NEW ULM -- Senior Emily Hahnke scored 13 points in her final home game Tuesday, leading the third-seeded Martin Luther womens basketball team to a 68-41 win over No. 6 Crown in an Upper Midwest Athletic Conference play-in game at MLC gym.

With the win, the Knights improve to 14-7 on the season. They will travel to Northwestern (Roseville) College to face second-seeded Northland at 2 p.m. Friday.

"I think our girls were really ready to play tonight," MLC coach Dennis Gorsline said. "We knew that if we didn't win this was it (for the season). Overall we played pretty good defense, and did a nice job with a new offense we were running tonight."

Elizabeth Olsen's 3-pointer to start the game got the Crusaders off on the right foot, but the Knights scored 14 of the next 17 points and would not trail again. Jackie Horton hit two turnaround jumpers in that spurt, and MLC was on its way.

"We have defeated (Crown) twice already this year," Gorsline said. "The first time we beat them by about 30 (points), but the second game we struggled and were down by three at half before winning by 11. It was important for us to come out and play well early."

The Knights, behind two baskets apiece from Sarah Scharf and Juliane Schulz, had a 10-0 run later on in the half for a 15-point lead, and the MLC defense held Crown to just 16 points in the first 20 minutes.

"Our strength all year has really been our defense," Gorsline said. "It's all about attitude and desire, and we work hard at it. If you work hard on defense, hopefully the offense will come."

The Crusaders would sneak within seven points early in the second half on buckets from Annika Swan and Sara Kurka, but Julie Schramm's jumper spurred a five-point MLC run. Her 3-pointer and a Hahnke three-point play pushed the lead to 44-27, and the Knights would really put the game away with a 15-0 run midway through for a 30-point lead. Annie Uecker hit three baskets in the spurt, with Abby Lindner hitting two.

"We were hoping we could put (Crown) away," Gorsline said. "We played all 11 people -- even in the first half. I thought everybody contributed." Nine different MLC players scored in the game, and six of those scored six or more points.

The Crusaders used constant Knight substitutions to score 10 of the next 13 points -- pulling within 62-39 -- but it was too late for any type of comeback.

Schulz scored 11 points and Schramm scored 10 to help the Knights. Uecker and Becky Pate each scored eight, and Scharf added five points, six rebounds, three blocked shots and a pair of steals.

Kurka led Crown with 13 points. Olsen added 12 points -- on four 3-pointers -- and a team-high eight boards.

CROWN 16 25--41

MLC 27 41--68

CROWN (41): Kurka 13, E.Olsen 12, Swan 7, Laugen 5, M.Olsen 2, Dunckel 2.

MLC (68): Hahnke 13, Schulz 11, Schramm 10, Uecker 8, Pate 8, Lindner 6, Scharf 5, Horton 4, Bowe 3.