The Lake Forest College women's basketball team was defeated 58-51 at Milwaukee School of Engineering Tuesday night in the season opener for both programs.
The Foresters led 39-32 late in the third quarter but the Raiders closed out the period with five free throws and rattled off 15 consecutive points in the fourth to take a 54-44 lead with two minutes to play. A three-pointer by Lake Forest junior guard Katie Neher with 49 seconds left and a free throw by Neher with 41 seconds on the clock made it a six-point game but the visitors got no closer.
Neher finished with a game-high 16 points and added eight rebounds and three steals in the contest. Sophomore forward Brooke Johnson was next on the team with a dozen points and she led the squad with nine boards. Both totals were career-highs for Johnson.
Neither team shot well on the night with MSOE at 31 percent from the field and the Foresters at just 23.9. The Raiders outscored their guests 21-15 on three-pointers and 9-8 from the foul line. The home team also had a 57-50 edge in rebounds but committed 21 turnovers to Lake Forest's 14.
The Foresters will travel to St. Louis this weekend for the Webster Tip-Off Tournament. Lake Forest will take on Fontbonne University Friday night at 6:00 and the hosts at 3:00 Saturday afternoon.