The Forester women's basketball team started its season by defeating Mount Mary College 85-35 in the semifinals of the Forester Tip-Off Tournament on Friday. Junior guard Sam Schuring led the home team with 12 points, eight assists, and four steals in just 17 minutes of play.
Fellow junior guard Alex Messacar was also very efficient, making each of her three field goal attempts, including a pair of three-pointers and both of her free throws for 10 points. She also played just 17 minutes in the contest.
Freshman guard Danielle Canulli was next on the squad with nine points and junior forward Courtney Faulstick and sophomore guard/forward Gina Ambrose finished with eight.
Freshman Constance Lee pulled down a team-high six rebounds and junior forward Liz Radtke pulled down five as the Foresters out-rebounded the Blue Angels 36-30.
All 14 healthy Foresters made at least one of the team's 35 field goals in the game.
Lake Forest shot 48.6 percent from the floor while Mount Mary made just 30.8 percent of its field goal attempts. The Foresters were also 6-for-22 from three-point range and 9-for-11 from the foul line. The visitors made four of 12 three-pointers and seven of 12 free throws. The home team had a significant edge in turnovers, committing just eight while forcing 33.
The Foresters scored the game's first 12 points and closed the opening period on a 17-2 run that made the score 47-16 at halftime. The home team also rattled off 10 straight points to start the second half an led by as many as 53 late in the game.
Mount Mary will face Northland College in tomorrow's consolation game at 1:00 p.m. The Foresters will take on Washington University-St. Louis, which defeated Northland 65-45 in Friday's first semifinal, in the championship game at 3:00. Washington University is ranked seventh in the nation in D3hoops.com's preseason poll.