The Forester women's basketball team was defeated 74-68 at Monmouth College on Saturday in the first game of 2015 for both schools. Freshman guard Kelsey Schmitt led Lake Forest with a career-high 13 points in just 15 minutes of play.
Schmitt made five of eight field goal attempts, including three of six from three-point range. She was one of three Foresters to score in double figures, joining senior guard Abby Weidman and sophomore forward Brittany Avonts, who finished with 11 and 10, respectively. Avonts, whose scoring total was also a career-high, shot 4-for-5 from the field, grabbed a team-high eight rebounds, dished out three assists, and added a pair of blocked shots. Weidman and senior guard Jenna Rice knocked down three three-pointers apiece and Rice led the visitors with six assists.
Lake Forest shot 42.4 percent from the floor and made a season-high 10 three-pointers in 27 attempts (37%). Monmouth matched the Foresters' 25 field goals and made just three shots from beyond the arc. The Fighting Scots, however, outscored the visitors 21-8 from the free throw line and committed just 14 turnovers to the Foresters' 18.
Monmouth scored the first seven points of the afternoon but Lake Forest quickly came back and tied game at 16. The Scots pulled away again and led by as many as 10 points in the first half, which ended with the home team ahead 32-28.
After falling behind by seven in the second half, the Foresters used a 10-3 run to tie the score at 55. The visitors tied the game again at 57 with 6:25 to play before surrendering eight straight points over the next three minutes. Monmouth made 11 of 12 foul shots down the stretch to secure the victory.
The Foresters are now 3-8 overall this season and 3-4 in Midwest Conference play. Monmouth improved to 3-7 overall and 2-3 in the league.
Lake Forest will host Beloit College Wednesday evening at 5:30.