Foresters Defeat Marian 85-52 in Home Opener

Photo by Raquel Vescovi
Photo by Raquel Vescovi

Junior guard Kelsey Burton scored a game-high 17 points and added six rebounds, three assists, and five steals Tuesday night in Lake Forest's 85-52 victory over Marian University.

Burton shot 6-for-11 from the field, made her only attempt from three-point range, and knocked down all four of her free throws in just 18 minutes of play.

Lake Forest had four players score in doubles figures for the second time in as many games this year. Freshman guard Kaley Sheehan was next with 13 points in 12 minutes while senior guard Zaria Sydnor and sophomore guard Meona Feather chipped in with 10 points apiece. All three connected on a pair of three-pointers and they combined for seven assists and five steals. Sophomore forward Adia Maund matched Burton with a team-high six rebounds.

A dozen Foresters played between 11 and 21 minutes and all but one of them scored at least three points.

The Foresters shot 51.3 percent from the field in the first half and 43.1 percent for the game. They also had a slight 39-38 edge in rebounds and committed just 11 turnovers while forcing 27 from the Sabres.

Lake Forest led by as many as 13 points in the opening period and by 10 at 24-14 when it ended. The margin grew to as many as 30 points late in the second quarter and the home team took a 50-21 advantage into the locker room at halftime.

The Forester lead climbed back to 30 points early in the third quarter and fluctuated between 30 and 36 the rest of the way.

Lake Forest is now 2-0 with a pair of 33-point victories on the season. Marian fell to 0-2.

The Foresters will travel to Wheaton College for this weekend's Beth Baker Classic and will face the host school in the semifinals Friday afternoon at 3:00. Saturday's consolation game will begin at 1:00 p.m. and the championship will follow at 3:00. Lake Forest's opponent on Saturday will be either Alma College or Wisconsin Lutheran College.