by Sophomore guard Meona Feather (Eastern Band Cherokee) scored 21 of her career-high 28 points in the fourth quarter Wednesday night in Lake Forest’s 90-82 victory over visiting Lawrence University.
Feather knocked down five of six shots from three-point range and all six free throws she attempted in the period. Her six three-pointers (in eight tries) in the contest are tied for the third-most in program history and her shooting percentage from beyond the arc ranks seventh (minimum five made three-pointers). Feather also led the Foresters with five assists and added three steals on the night.
Senior guard Zaria Sydnor was next on the team with 22 points while junior forward Delaney Sjong and guard Kelsey Burton added 13 and 11, respectively. Sydnor and Burton chipped in with four assists apiece and Sjong matched Feather’s three steals. Freshman guard Katie Neher led the home team with six rebounds.
Lake Forest connected on 50 percent of field goal attempts, matching the season-opener for the highest shooting percentage this year. Lawrence, however, shot at a 55.8 percent clip and outscored the Foresters 18-14 from the foul line. The home team made twice as many three-pointers (12-6), out-rebounded the Vikings 32-28, and forced 22 turnovers while committing 14.
Lawrence led by as many as seven points early in the game but a 12-4 run, capped off by a Sydnor layup just before the buzzer, put Lake Forest on top 14-13 after 10 minutes of play. The lead changed hands six times early in a close second quarter and the game was tied at 36 at halftime.
The third was also close throughout and five straight Vikings points to close out the period gave the visitors a 56-55 advantage. Feather gave the Foresters the lead for good on a three-pointer just a few seconds into the fourth. Back-to-back three-pointers by Burton and Feather’s second of the quarter quickly made it an 11-point game with six minutes to play and Feather struck three times from beyond the arc during a two-minute span later in the period, making it a 78-66 game with two-and-a-half minutes left. The Vikings closed to within five in the final minute but Sydnor and Feather combined to shoot 9-for-10 from the line in the last 50 seconds to preserve the victory.
