The Forester women's basketball team was defeated 52-47 Wednesday evening at Knox College. Lake Forest senior forward Tabytha Harvey led all players in the game with a season-high 14 rebounds but finally missed from the free throw line after making her first 27 foul shots of the year.
Harvey also scored six points and added two steals and a blocked shot.
Sophomore guard Sam Schuring led the Foresters with 15 points and five assists while playing the entire contest. Senior guard Emily Weber also reached double figures with 10 points and five rebounds.
Lake Forest shot just 37.3 percent from the field but held Knox to 30.6. The teams combined to make just five of 24 three-pointers. Both teams connected on two-thirds if their free throws but the Prairie Fire had 30 attempts and the Foresters just nine. The visitors had a 37-30 edge in rebounds but committed 21 turnovers while forcing just 15.
There were six lead changes and neither team led by more than six points in the first half, which ended with the Foresters ahead 22-20.
A five-point Knox lead was the largest of the second half for either team. The game was tied five times, including a 47-47 deadlock after a Prairie Fire free throw with just 39 seconds to play. The second free throw was missed but the rebound went to Knox. A Forester fouls with 28, 18, and three seconds remaining led to five made free throws in six attempts for the home team to clinch the victory.
Lake Forest fell to 12-10 overall and 10-7 in Midwest Conference play while the Prairie Fire raised their overall record to 6-16 and league mark to 5-12.
The Foresters will close out the regular season Saturday afternoon at 1:00 against visiting Grinnell College. Lake Forest needs a victory to qualify for the four-team MWC Tournament, which will be played February 25-26 at league champion St. Norbert College. Live video of all Midwest Conference game is available at www.pennatlantic.com. Live stats for Forester home games are also available on the Lake Forest College Athletics website.
