The Forester women's basketball team was edged out 81-78 at Illinois College on Saturday.
Four Lake Forest player scored in double figures, led by junior guard Maurissa Edwards with 20 points. She shot 6-for-11 from the field, knocked down three of four attempts from three-point range, and added seven rebounds and a game-high six assists.
Senior guard Katie Neher was next on the team with 14 points and she led all players in the contest with nine rebounds.
Sophomore center Peyton Noles shot 6-for-7 from the field and set career-highs with 13 points and four assists. The Foresters outscored the Lady Blues by 17 points during her 22 minutes of playing time.
Senior forward Annie Lally finished with a dozen points, including 10 in the fourth quarter.
Lake Forest shot a season-best 52.9 percent and out-rebounded the home team 36-31. Illinois College was at 44.1 percent from the floor but forced 23 turnovers while committing just 15.
The Lady Blues scored the first 13 points of the game and led 26-10 at the end of the opening period. The margin reached 19 early in the second quarter before Lake Forest closed to within eight at 43-35 at halftime.
The Foresters matched their highest-scoring quarter of the season in the third, outscoring the Blues 30-23 to make it a one-point game with 10 minutes to play. The visitors took their first lead of the contest on a layup by Noles less than a minute into the fourth and Lally made a pair of free throws a minute later to regain the advantage. Lake Forest never led again, however. Illinois College opened up a six-point lead but the Foresters battled back again and eventually tied the score at 78 on an Edwards free throw with 27 seconds left. Lake Forest did not score again and the Lady Blues made three of six foul shots in the final 15 seconds to secure the victory.
The loss dropped the Foresters' overall record this season to 4-10 and Midwest Conference mark to 1-6. Illinois College improved to 5-10 overall and 3-4 in the league.
Lake Forest will play at Ripon College Tuesday evening at 5:30.
