The Forester women's basketball team was defeated 87-56 just north of the state line at Carthage College Tuesday night.
While the final score was lopsided, the first half was not. Lake Forest led at times in each of the first two quarters and the game was tied at 29 with three minutes to play in the second. Carthage then rattled off eight straight points before a pair of free throws by Forester junior guard Katie Neher made the score 37-31 at halftime.
The visitors closed to within two at 40-38 early in the third quarter but the Firebirds scored 17 of the game's next 20 points to pull away.
Neher led Lake Forest with 16 points and she added five rebounds on the night. Junior forward Annie Lally was next on the team in scoring with 13 points while sophomore guard Maurissa Edwards paced the squad in rebounds with six.
The Foresters shot just 31.6 percent from the field while Carthage was at 45 percent. Both teams made nine three-pointers but the Firebirds outscored their guests 24-11 from the foul line, had a 41-35 advantage in rebounds, and forced 20 turnovers while committing just 13.
The loss dropped the Foresters' record on the season to 2-3 while Carthage improved to 3-2.
Lake Forest will be in action again next Tuesday against Monmouth College. The Foresters' first Midwest Conference home game of the season is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.