The Forester women's basketball team fell 78-38 to visiting Washington University in St. Louis, the 10th-ranked team in the country, in the season opener for both squads. Junior forward K.C. Stralka led the Foresters with nine points and six rebounds in the contest.

Stralka was 4-for-8 from the field and added a blocked shot to her stat line.

Freshman guard Kelsey Schmitt and freshman forward Claire Finn were next on the team with seven points apiece.

Lake Forest shot just 28.9 percent from the field and made only nine of 19 free throws in the game. The Bears shot 38.8 percent from the floor and knocked down 19 of 25 foul shots. The visitors also had a 48-33 advantage in rebound and committed just 13 turnovers to the Foresters' 24.

Washington University scored the game's first eight points and, after a three-pointer by Forester junior guard Michelle Ricolcol, added seven more in a row to take a 15-3 lead. The margin remained in double figures the rest of the way and grew to 23 (39-16) at halftime.

The Bears gradually extended the lead to as many as 44 points late in the contest.

Lake Forest will begin Midwest Conference play Wednesday night against visiting St. Norbert College. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.