NEW ULM, Minn. – Saturday marked a meeting between the Yellowjacket women's basketball team and the Knights of Martin Luther College. Both squads entered LSC Gymnasium boasting a three-game winning streak to open Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) action, setting up an entertaining match up early in the conference slate.
 
The Knights established a small lead in the early stages of the contest. UW-Superior stayed within striking distance throughout the rest of the game, coming within three points in the final minutes, but Martin Luther held on to serve the Yellowjackets their first UMAC loss with a 60-52 win.
 
Game Notes

• After falling behind 5-0, Superior logged consecutive layups from Elise Besonen (Ewen, Mich./Ewen-Trout Creek) and Charlotte Ferstl (Plain, Wis./River Valley) before MyKenzie Leccia (Somerset, Wis./Somerset) hit an early three pointer at 7-7.
• MLC's Mya Morris and Emma Dorn helped push the Knights ahead, but Besonen and Chloe Peterson (Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson) would close the gap and allow just a four-point lead heading into the second.
• Three minutes ticked off the clock before the first points of the second quarter. The Knights led by nine until Ferstl grabbed an offensive board and laid it in. Action continued with Leccia drawing a steal before sending a pass to Besonen as she logged a fastbreak layup at 25-20.
• Both teams responded with points, including Kylee Hewitt's (Hurley, Wis.) layup with under two minutes to go. At halftime, the Yellowjackets trailed by four at 30-26.
• The 'Jackets posted just nine points in the third quarter, four of which came from Ferstl off a layup and sinking two-of-two from the free throw line.
• Three minutes of play saw a barrage of turnovers and steals, along with two Yellowjacket blocks that led to neither team log points. Emily Dehler (Pierz, Minn./Pierz Healy) and Besonen garnered points late in the quarter, but Morris converted a pair of three pointers to lead by seven heading into the final frame.
• Quarter number four saw turnovers on both sides of the ball, but the Knights were able to generate offense late in the game. The Yellowjackets countered, as Besonen, Ferstl and Dobson placed Superior within three at 49-46.
• Morris hit timely shots for the Knights, however, as her offensive output pushed MLC to their fourth straight UMAC win, defeating the Yellowjackets 60-52. She ended with 22 points.
• The Yellowjackets were led by Ferstl, who displayed a balanced attack throughout the contest. She logged 15 points while grabbing nine rebounds and blocking three shots.
• Besonen scored 14 points Saturday while playing a full 40 minutes.

 
UW-Superior will look to rebound Wednesday, as they travel to the campus of Northwestern. The opening tipoff inside the Ericksen Center is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.
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