MLC women drop 89 points in win over Mount Mary

Staff photo by Travis Rosenau
Martin Luther College’s Mya Morris (23) looks to pass the ball while guarded by Mount Mary’s India Lucas during a nonconference women’s basketball game Friday evening at MLC.

NEW ULM — With the most points scored in a game by a Martin Luther College women’s basketball team since 2015, the Knights stormed past the Mount Mary Blue Angels 89-42 on Friday evening in a nonconference game.

The 89 points were the most an MLC women’s team has had in a game since the 2014-15 season when they won 92-67 at Northland on Feb. 20, 2015.

Sophomore guard Mya Morris, a transfer from Crown College in her first season playing for the Knights, led the way with 23 points, getting 21 of those points on 7-of-11 shooting from beyond the arc.

“It’s so cool,” Morris said of the Knights’ 89-point effort. “With all the girls, everyone works so hard and we have a goal to be the best that we can be and give glory to God and honor God. Everyone works so hard and everyone has one goal, so when we can all work through that goal, we an accomplish these cool feats and these cool things. Not just one person on the team, but it’s everybody working together. Even the girls that came off the bench … they did awesome and they kept the lead going because everyone pushes each other, so it’s really cool.”

With 41-15 lead at halftime, the Knights did have every opportunity to get all 10 available bench players on the floor and did so in the second half. MLC senior Lauren Paulsen played 20 minutes in the game to lead the team.

Emma Dorn had 9 points and eight rebounds also for MLC, while Ava Stein added 8 points off the bench. The Knights also saw 14 of their 15 players score in the game, and their one player who didn’t get into the scoring column, Audrey deBoer, added an assist and a steal.

Deja Rivers led Mount Mary with 19 points.

It took the Knights a little more than two minutes to get on the board, but when they did on a 3 by Morris, they never trailed again. Another 3 by Morris put the Knights up 6-0 before Paulsen hit a 3 and a jumper for an 11-0 Knights lead. Vanessa Diaz scored for the Blue Angels to end MLC’s hot start.

The Knights continued to add to their lead after that, however, taking a 28-6 lead into the second quarter. A jumper in the paint by Morris gave the Knights a 40-11 lead, their largest lead of the half, in the second quarter.

The Knights got an 11-0 run late in the final quarter to lead by 47, 87-40, their largest lead of the night. That run saw a layup by Wilhelmina Wenz, a free throw by Ella Walz, two layups by Chloe Koschnitzke, two free throws by Hannah Rodmyre and a layup by Ella Schmidt. After a layup by Avery Gorn ended the MLC run, Alana Sulzle sank a pair of free throws for the Knights to lead to the final score.

As the now 3-2 Knights head into a Thanksgiving break, the players will have a chance to rest and take time to be thankful. One thing Morris is thankful for is the new start she has been given at MLC.

“Getting to start over and play with a brand new team was awesome,” Morris said. “I love my team at Crown, they were great, but I really love it here. It’s such a unique atmosphere. The team is awesome, the coaching’s awesome and we get to learn more about Jesus and get to grow closer to God, which is such a unique experience that you don’t get at universities, so that was awesome. … Just from the first couple practices, it just felt really good meshing with the team. And the volleyball players coming in after three weeks not in and they got into it right away and did so great. It’s been so fun.”

The Knights have an exhibition game Dec. 3 at Viterbo before continuing their regular season in Decorah, Iowa, on Dec. 10 at Luther College.