Sophomore guard Kelsey Burton came within two assists of a triple-double but the Lake Forest College women's basketball team was defeated 78-72 by Edgewood College at the Loras Tip-Off Classic on Friday.
Burton scored 15 points, pulled down 11 rebounds, and dished out a game-high eight assists in the contest. She also came up with a pair of steals.
Senior forward Hannah Hiland led Lake Forest with 19 points, matched Burton for game-high honors in rebounds, and had four steals. Junior guard Zaria Sydnor added a dozen points while senior forward Hannah O'Day and sophomore guard Jaianna Brooks chipped in with eight apiece.
Lake Forest shot 39 percent from the floor while Edgewood connected on 44 percent of their field goal attempts. While the Foresters had a significant 45-30 advantage in rebounds, the Eagles edge came at the arc, where they shot 10-for-16 and outscored Lake Forest 30-6. The teams combined to shoot 40-for-48 (.833) from the foul line.
The teams were separated by no more than five points throughout the opening quarter and Edgewood led by three at 17-14 when it ended. The Eagles increased their lead to 10 points in the second but an 8-0 run by the Foresters to close out the period made the score 31-29 at halftime.
A three-pointer by Sydnor put Lake Forest on top 34-33 in the third quarter and back-to-back baskets by Burton made the score 38-35 a few minutes later. The teams combined for 36 points in the final four-and-a-half minutes of the period and Edgewood led by four at 60-56 entering the fourth. The Eagles owned most of the final period and pulled ahead by 15 on a basket with 3:24 remaining. The Foresters had one more run in them, however, and eventually closed to within three on a pair of free throws by Burton with 32 seconds left. They got no closer, however, and Edgewood connected on three of four foul shots down the stretch to secure the victory in the team's first game of the season.
Lake Forest is now 0-2 and will face Loras Saturday afternoon at 4:00 to close out the event.