Junior forward Molly Schoenlein scored a career-high 20 points to help lead the Lake Forest College women's basketball team to a 62-49 victory over visiting Lawrence University on Tuesday.
Schoenlein made her first six field goal attempts of the evening and finished 9-for-12 from the floor. She also grabbed eight rebounds and recorded a pair of blocked shots.
With 10 points, senior forward Hannah Hiland was the only other Forester to score in double figures. Sophomore guards Kelsey Burton and Jaianna Brooks led all players in the game with a season-high 14 rebounds and six assists, respectively. Burton also dished out three assists and Brooks had three steals.
While shooting just 39 percent from the field, the Foresters limited Lawrence to 33.9 percent. The home team also outscored the Vikings 12-3 on three-pointers and 12-6 from the free throw line. Rebounds were even at 41 for each side and Lake Forest forced 18 turnovers while committing 14.
Neither team led by more than three points in the opening quarter, which ended with the Foresters ahead 10-9. A 13-4 run for the home team in the second increased the margin to 10 points but back-to-back baskets by the Vikings to close out the half made the score 29-23 at the break.
Lawrence closed to within three points early in the third quarter and the Forester lead was down to two with less than two minutes to play in the period. Schoenlein then knocked down a pair of jumpers and Lake Forest led 45-39 with 10 minutes remaining in the contest. The Vikings pulled to within a point at 46-45 with 6:45 left but five points each from Hiland and junior guard Zaria Sydnor gave the home team an 11-point advantage. Lawrence got no closer than nine points the rest of the way and two free throws each by Schoenlein and Sydnor in the final minute helped secure the win.
The victory evened Lake Forest's overall record on the season at 7-7 and, thanks to action elsewhere in the Midwest Conference, the Foresters moved into a first-place tie with Monmouth College and Ripon College at 6-1 in league play.
Lake Forest will travel to Cornell College on Saturday for a 3:00 p.m. tip-off.
