The Forester women's basketball team was defeated 123-99 at North Central College Wednesday night. Lake Forest sophomore guard Lexi Leneau finished with 13 points and a game-high 12 rebounds for her first career double-double.
Leneau was one of five Foresters to score in double figures, led by senior point guard Sam Schuring with 19. Schuring shot 6-for-9 from the field and 7-for-10 from the free throw line and added six rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Senior guard Gina Ambrose finished with 16 points and eight boards, junior guard Danielle Canulli had 15 points and six rebounds, and sophomore guard Michelle Ricolcol added 11 points, nine boards, and four steals.
The Foresters were 36-for-76 (47.4%) from the floor while North Central made 39 of 96 field goal attempts (40.6%). The Cardinals knocked down 18 three pointers in 51 tries and the Foresters just two of nine. The teams combined to make 52 of 75 foul shots. Lake Forest was out-rebounded 59-46 and committed 45 of the game's 76 turnovers.
North Central scored the game's first eight points and led by as many as 11 before a 13-2 run by the Foresters tied the game at 32. The Cardinals responded with a 23-4 run but Lake Forest scored the next 16 points to pull to within three. The score at halftime was 58-52 in favor of the home team.
An 11-0 North Central run early in the second half extended the lead to 18 points and the Foresters were unable to get any closer than 13 points the rest of the way.
Lake Forest fell to 0-3 on the season while the Cardinals raised their record to 2-1.
The Foresters will play their 2013-14 home opener against Carthage College, the 12th-ranked team in the nation in D3hoops.com's preseason poll, Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
