The Lake Forest women's basketball team put themselves in a strong position to earn a Midwest Conference victory over Monmouth College on Wednesday night, but could not finish the job, falling 68-62.
 
Anika Kinnear led the way offensively for Lake Forest with 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting. Senior guard Jamie Springstead earned her second double-double of season with 16 points and 13 rebounds.
 
Kinnear provided the scoring punch for the Foresters by finding her range from behind the three-point line. She entered Wednesday's game just 4-of-24 from three-point range this season, but the junior was on fire against Monmouth. Kinnear matched her season total Wednesday night by drilling 4-of-7 from three-point range.
 
Careah Baitlon played a well-rounded game with five points, five rebounds, and a season-high seven assists, and Ella Franck set a new career high with 11 points.
 
The Foresters shot 36.8 percent from the field and made 6-of-22 three-point attempts. Lake Forest left some opportunities on the table at the free-throw line, converting 14-of-29 (48.3 percent) at the charity stripe for the game.
 
The Foresters were outscored 26-13 in the fourth quarter and were outrebounded 15-5 in the final frame.  
 
The third quarter was where the Foresters made their run to surge ahead. Lake Forest won the quarter 20-11, and the hosts used stifling defense to take the lead, holding Monmouth to 17.6 percent shooting in the frame.
 
A key piece offensively for the Foresters in the third quarter was the sophomore Franck. She scored seven points in the quarter, punctuated by a buzzer-beating three-pointer from the corner off an unselfish pass from Kinnear.
 
Springstead got off to a strong start in the opening period. The senior guard accounted for six points and four rebounds in first quarter alone.
 
Lake Forest used a 9-0 run across the end of the first quarter into the second quarter to take a 16-13 lead. The Foresters held the Scots scoreless for more than four minutes in the run.
 
Lake Forest will be back on the road for its next game, as the Foresters will travel to Grinnell, Iowa, on Saturday to take on the Pioneers of Grinnell College. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.