Box Score
GALESBURG, Illinois – The Prairie Fire overcame a rough start but couldn't get over the hump completely in a 93-88 Midwest Conference loss to Lake Forest College on Saturday at Memorial Gym.

The Foresters raced out to a 17-0 lead 5 1/2 minutes into the game until a basket by first-year Elena Angueira-Bosch (Isabela, Puerto Rico, Spires Academy) snapped the run.  Lake Forest expanded the lead to 30-9 with 9:16 remaining.

Knox (2-4, 2-2 MWC) refused to go away and whittled the deficit down to five (40-35) on a jumper by sophomore Aly Eastman (Kewanee, IL, Wethersfield) with 30 seconds on the clock, capping an 18-4 run after trailing by 19 with 5:48 left.  Lake Forest split a pair of free throws late in the half and took a 41-35 lead into the break.

The Foresters (2-5, 2-3 MWC) again blazed out of the gates, scoring eight unanswered points over the first two minutes of the second half to push the lead to 49-35.  The lead ballooned to the biggest of the game for Lake Forest, 75-49, with 8:23 to play.

The Prairie Fire drew within single-digits, 89-80, with 53 seconds left in the game.  Lake Forest stretched the lead back to 11 before senior Jodi Marver (Northbrook, IL, Glenbrook North), who scored the last eight points for Knox, drilled back-to-back 3-pointers to account for the final score.

The Prairie Fire shot a chilly 18.5 percent in the first half and improved to 27 percent overall.  Knox also had trouble at the foul line, finishing the game 15-of-28 overall – including 6-of-13 in the second half.

Lake Forest shot 59 percent in the second half and 48 percent overall.  The Foresters hit 25-of-40 free throws and outrebounded Knox 72-62.

The Prairie Fire forced 40 Lake Forest turnovers, the second straight game the opponent has turned the ball over at least 40 times.

Marver led Knox in scoring with 23 points and a game-high five steals.  First-year Naja Woods (Minneapolis, MN, Southwest) added 12 points and junior Saundra Gavazzi (Gilbert, AZ, Chandler) had 11.  Sophomore Molly Lascelles (Ipava, IL, VIT) grabbed seven rebounds to lead the Fire on the glass.

Danielle Canulli paced Lake Forest with 17 points.

The Prairie Fire resume play on Tuesday at home against an Illinois College team that was ranked second in the MWC preseason coaches' poll.  The Lady Blues (4-2, 2-0) defeated Lawrence University 70-41 at home on Saturday.

Knox and IC will tip off at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Memorial Gym.