Sophomore forward Hannah Hiland scored a career-high 18 points but the Lake Forest College women's basketball team's comeback attempt fell just short in a 50-46 loss to visiting Grinnell College on Friday.
Hiland scored six points in the third quarter and seven in the fourth as the Foresters cut was once a 15-point second half lead all the way down to two after her two free throws with 4:28 to play. Hiland connected on a layup with 2:49 left to trim the margin to two again at 48-46 but Lake Forest would not score again. A Grinnell basket with 37 seconds on the clock made it a four-point game, where it remained until the buzzer.
Neither team led by more than four points in the first quarter and both had 11 when it ended. A 14-1 Pioneer run to open the second gave the visitors their largest lead of the half and they were ahead 30-19 after 20 minutes.
Senior forward Brittany Avonts led the Foresters with 10 rebounds and the home team had a 46-42 advantage on the boards in the game. Both teams shot less than 30 percent from the field.
Lake Forest sophomore guard Bridget Bilek and senior forward Kara Norvet shared the team lead in assists with three apiece and Hiland's three blocked shots led all players in the game.
The loss leaves Lake Forest with a 3-9 overall record and a 2-5 mark in Midwest Conference play. Grinnell improved to 6-6 overall and 4-3 in the league.
The Foresters will host Knox College Saturday afternoon at 1:00.