By BOB VARMETTE

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- It was a typical first game for the Martin Luther Knights. There were the usual missed shots, a lot of turnovers, but also some promising play.

But in the end, the Mount Marty Lancers cruised to a 70-44 win over MLC Tuesday night in women's nonconference basketball.

After coaching his first game, Knights coach Gene Pfeifer was upbeat.

"Even though we lost by 26, I was pleased," Pfeifer said. "The first half, we played a great first 15 minutes. We played really well. We knew they were going to be a tough team. ... I was pleased with our effort."

In addition to having a new coach, the Knights have a lot of new faces. Eight freshmen are on the MLC roster.

That meant a lot of questions to be answered. That's what this game was for. Pfeifer rotated players in and out -- eight Knights saw at least 17 minutes.

Senior post Sarah Scharf led MLC (0-1) with 12 points. Junior guard Becky Pate also reached double figures for the Knights, adding 10 points.

One of the questions that was answered was the Knights will have to shoot better. MLC shot only 23.3 percent from the field and only 17.2 percent in the first half.

"Part of that's first-game stuff," Pate said. "But they were double-teaming a lot down on the post. Some of it's the first-game jitters, but this is only the start of the third week of practice for us. People are still getting into rhythm."

While the Knights were struggling early in the game, Mount Marty (3-3) was too. The Lancers shot better than the Knights, but turnovers helped keep the Knights in the game until late in the first half.

"We had a three-hour bus ride, maybe we were a little bit overconfident," Mount Marty coach Chuck Iverson said. "But I don't want to take anything away from them. Give them credit. They came after us offensively and defensively."

The Knights led much of the first 11 minutes of the game despite missing some easy chances. But trailing 15-11, the Lancers went on an 11-2 run to take a 22-17 lead with 5:54 in the first half after back-to-back buckets from junior forward Kylee White. Mount Marty finished the first half by outscoring the Knights 11-5.

"The last five minutes of the first half our defense was not nearly as intense as it was in the first 15 minutes," Pate said. "We kind of gave them a little room to breathe. We weren't closing out as fast, we weren't as aggressive on the boards. Our defense at the kind of broke down a little bit."

Mount Marty carried the momentum into the second half. MLC's first three possessions each ended in turnovers and the Lancers extended their margin to 38-22, getting a 3 from Mandy Carlson and a bucket from Jamie Keller.

Mount Marty then went on a 15-6 run to all but end the game. Consecutive layups by Melissa Schmidt in transition put the Lancers up 50-26 with 13:08 remaining and Emily Johnson canned a 3 to give Mount Marty a 53-28 margin with 12:15 in the game.

Junior post Eliza Leloux was the only Lancer in double figures, finishing with 19 points. Heine and White each added nine points for Mount Marty.

"I think we got tired a little bit at the end of the first half," Pfeifer said. "And then they started to build the lead. The second half, we didn't come out. I think the tiredness was there, but I like the way we finished the game. I thought that we stayed with them. Overall, I was actually quite pleased."

And the Lancers did have quite a bit of a head start on the Knights.

"It was our first game and their sixth game," Pate said. "We still young and we're working with each other and we just have room to grow and to improve."

MLC defeated by Mount Marty