The Lake Forest College women's basketball team hosted and defeated Lawrence University 79-70 Saturday afternoon.

After surrendering the game's first four points, the Foresters scored the next nine and led the rest of the way. Their 22 points in the first quarter were the most the team scored the the opening period all season and they were ahead by 10 after 10 minutes of play. The margin grew to 18 and was 15 at halftime as Lake Forest scored 22 more points in the second.

Lawrence closed to within nine point twice in the third quarter and trailed by just eight at 72-64 with 7:30 to play in the contest. The Foresters, however, pulled away with a 10-0 run and held on for the victory.

Junior guard Rebecca Christodoulou shot 8-for-13 from the floor, connected on three of five attempts from three-point range, and led all players in the game with 23 points. Sophomore guard Taylor Major and senior guard Melissa Gomez were each 6-for-9 from the field and finished with 17 and 16 points, respectively. Gomez, whose point total was a career best, also grabbed a game-high eight rebounds, one more than Christodoulou and two more than Major. Senior guard Maurissa Edwards also reached double figures with 11 points and led the team with four assists and three steals.

Lake Forest's point total and .481 field goal percentage were season highs and they had a 39-30 edge on the boards. Lawrence shot just 39.0 percent from the field.

The victory was the Foresters' second in a row and raised their overall record to 4-15 and Midwest Conference mark to 3-8. The Vikings fell to 12-8 overall and 6-5 in the league.

Lake Forest will host Mount Mary University in non-conference action Wednesday night at 7:00..