Another double-double by senior forward K.C. Stralka was not enough as the Forester women's basketball team was defeated 78-70 at Knox College on Saturday in a game that included 13 lead changes.
Stralka finished with 15 points, a game-high 16 rebounds, and a pair of blocked shots. Senior guard Michelle Ricolcol led the visitors with 17 points and four assists while freshman forward Paige Bobos and sophomore guard Kelsey Schmitt also reached double figures with 12 and 10 points, respectively. Bobos added eight rebounds as the Foresters finished with a slight 49-48 edge on the boards.
Both teams committed 16 turnovers and shot between 36 and 37 percent from the field. Knox outscored Lake Forest 24-12 from three-point range and 22-10 from the free throw line.
Neither team led by more than four points during the first quarter, which ended with the Prairie Fire ahead 19-16. The Foresters pulled ahead by five points during the second quarter and held a slight 36-34 edge at halftime.
A pair of free throws by Stralka with 4:29 to play in the third gave Lake Forest a 50-48 lead but the home team scored the game's next 13 points. A three-pointer and a pair of free throws by Schmitt made the score 61-55 in favor of Knox going into the fourth quarter. Baskets by freshman guard Taylor Farrell, Stralka, and Ricolcol to open the final period tied the score at 61 and the Foresters eventually had a 69-68 lead with three minutes remaining. The Prairie Fire, however, closed out the game on a 10-1 run to secure the victory.
Both teams are now 11-8 overall this season. Lake Forest fell to 9-5 in Midwest Conference play while Knox improved to 6-8 in the league.
The Foresters will host conference-leading St. Norbert College (16-4, 15-0 MWC) Tuesday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.