The Lake Forest College women's basketball team dropped a 79-54 decision to Carthage College at home Tuesday evening.

The Foresters kept the game close for the vast majority of the first half and trailed by just three after a pair of free throws by senior forward Emmy Punches with 1:52 remaining in the second quarter. The Firebirds, however scored the final seven points before halftime and led 40-30 at the break.

The margin fluctuated between 10 and 16 points throughout the third quarter, which ended with the visitors on top 56-42. A three-pointer by Lake Forest senior guard Jamie Springstead made it a 12-point game with 8:44 left but Carthage outscored the home team 21-8 the rest of the way.

Springstead and fellow senior guard Rebecca Christodoulou led the Foresters with 11 points apiece while sophomore guard Carreah Baitlon added 10. Christodoulou also recorded team highs with seven rebounds and three assists and Springstead with three steals. Punches was next on the team in scoring with eight points, including six on seven attempts from the foul line.

Lake Forest outscored Carthage 24-12 from the foul line but shot just 26.5 percent from the field to the Firebirds' 49.2 percent. The visitors also had a 40-35 edge in rebounds and committed just 13 of the game's 32 turnovers.

The los dropped the Foresters' record on the season to 1-5 while Carthage improved to 4-1.

Lake Forest will begin Midwest Conference play at Monmouth College next Tuesday evening at 5:30.