The Lake Forest College women's basketball team was edged out 64-62 at Grinnell College on Saturday, despite 10 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, and three blocked shots by junior forward K.C. Stralka.
Stralka also added a steal and played turnover-free basketball in the game. Her rebound total was a career-high and it was also her first career double-double. Stralka is now tied for fourth place in team history with 53 career blocked shots.
Three other Foresters also reached double figures in points. Senior guard Danielle Canulli led the visitors with 17 points and added five rebounds. Fellow senior guard Abby Wiedman knocked down four three-pointers and finished with 15 points. Sophomore forward Brie Majkowski scored a dozen points on 6-of-9 shotting from the field and added six rebounds and three assists. Senior guard Jenna Rice led all players in the contest with a season-high eight assists.
Lake Forest shot 44.8 percent from the floor in the contest while the Pioneers made just 35.6 percent of their field goal attempts. Grinnell, however, outscored the Foresters 24-12 from three-point range and 14-6 from the free throw line while also out-rebounding the visitors 42-34.
There were six lead changes in the first half, the last on a three-pointer by Wiedman with 8:42 remaining. Another Wiedman three with 4:18 left gave the visitors a 28-20 advantage, their largest lead of the period. Grinnell scored the next five points but Lake Forest extended the margin to six (31-25) at halftime.
An 8-0 run early in the second half put the Foresters ahead 41-27 but the Pioneers gradually chipped away at the deficit and eventually took the lead with 5:35 to play. Lake Forest trailed byt three with less than a minute left but a basket by Majkowski and a free throw by Canulli knotted the game at 62. Grinnell's game-winning basket came with 4.4 seconds on the clock.
The Foresters are now 1-4 overall and 1-2 in Midwest Conference play. Grinnell improved to 2-3 overall and 2-1 in the league.
Lake Forest will host Carroll University Wednesday evening at 5:30.