The Lake Forest College women's basketball team trimmed an 18-point second half deficit to just two but eventually fell 67-63 to Grinnell College at home on Saturday.
After scoring 26 points in the season opener and 19 on Tuesday, Forester senior guard Katie Neher matched the ninth-highest total in team history with a career-high 33 on Saturday. She shot 13-for-24 from the field and knocked down a career-high six three-pointers.
Junior Maurissa Edwards also filled the stat sheet for the home team, finishing with 15 points, eight rebounds, and a career-high seven assists. The Forester point guard also added three steals while committing just two turnovers.
There was very little difference between the teams in most statistical categories. Lake Forest shot 34.4 percent from the field while Grinnell was at 36.5. The Pioneers made two more three-pointers (10-8) while the Foresters grabbed two more rebounds (39-37) but committed two more turnovers (17-15).
Already leading 19-16 after the game's first 10 minutes, the Pioneers outscored the home team 17-3 in the second quarter. They were ahead 49-31 in the third before a 22-6 run by the Foresters over the next 10 minutes made it a two-point game with 4:04 to play. An Edwards three-pointer with a minute-and-a-half remaining trimmed the margin to two again but Lake Forest got no closer. Grinnell made five of six foul shots in the final minute to secure the victory.
Lake Forest is now 1-2 and Grinnell 2-3 overall this season. Saturday's game was the Midwest Conference opener for both teams.
The Foresters will return to non-conference play against visiting Carthage College next Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.