NEW ULM, Minn. — Hamline (3-0, 0-0 MIAC) defeated Martin Luther College (2-2, 0-0 UMAC), 77-61, at the Luther Student Center, fueled by a 39-22 rebounding advantage.

The Pipers improved to 3-0 on the season following their victory, with no conference games yet played in the MIAC. Martin Luther's record now stands at 2-2, also without any conference games completed in the UMAC.

Hamline and Martin Luther began their contest with a closely contested first quarter. Lydia Feidt opened the scoring for Martin Luther with a three-pointer at 9:19, assisted by Ella Walz. The Pipers quickly responded with a three-pointer from Sophie Stork at 8:47, assisted by Lauren Cooper, tying the score at 3-3. Josie Wiebusch helped the Pipers pull ahead with a jumper at 7:00, putting them ahead 7-5. Cooper's three-pointer at 4:49 extended Hamline's lead to 15-10. Marina LaFreniere capped the quarter with a tip-in at 0:20, securing a 17-14 advantage for Hamline at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter saw a competitive exchange between Hamline and Martin Luther. Taylor Klement put the Pipers ahead 18-14 early with a free throw at 9:17. Wilhelmina Wenz then responded for Martin Luther with a three-pointer to close the gap. Josie Schmidt's layup at 5:04, assisted by Cooper, reestablished Hamline's narrow lead at 24-21. As the quarter progressed, both teams traded baskets, culminating in a fast-break layup by Schmidt to widen Hamline's lead to 30-23. However, Martin Luther rallied back to tie the score at 32-32 with a jumper from Ava Stein at the conclusion of the quarter.

Cooper ignited Hamline's offense with an early three-pointer assisted by LaFreniere, setting the stage for a back-and-forth third quarter. The Pipers improved their defensive efforts with three steals and capitalized on turnovers, including a fast-break layup by Schmidt at 6:29. Klement played a pivotal role, sinking three three-pointers, the last of which extended their lead to 51-44 with 1:45 remaining. Despite a late three-pointer by Ava Walz for Martin Luther, Hamline closed the quarter ahead by a score of 53-47.

Hamline secured a decisive victory over Martin Luther in the final quarter, outscoring the home team 24-14. LaFreniere initiated the scoring with a jumper, and Cooper followed with a fast-break three-pointer, assisted by Schmidt, at 8:40 to extend the lead. Wiebusch's three-pointer at 1:17, assisted by Cooper, further solidified Hamline's dominance. Camille Cummings capped the game with a three-pointer at 0:29, assisted by Schmidt, sealing the commanding win.

Five Pipers broke into double digit points in the win. Cooper scored 14 points and recorded six assists, contributing significantly to the team's offensive efforts. Schmidt posted eight points while collecting six steals and five assists, showcasing her defensive capabilities. Cummings added 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds, bolstering the team's presence on the boards. LaFreniere tallied 10 points and secured 10 rebounds, achieving a double-double performance.

The Pipers will take on UW-Stout at home next Tuesday, November 25 at Hutton Arena, with a tipoff time of 5:30 PM!