BELOIT, WI – In a gritty display of resilience and defensive pressure, the Beloit College women's basketball team overcame a halftime deficit to defeat Lake Forest College 56-49 at Flood Arena this evening.
While Lake Forest (2-19, 0-12 MWC) controlled the tempo for much of the first half, the Buccaneers (6-15, 3-9 MWC) used a dominant third quarter and a massive fourth-quarter scoring run to pull away and secure their sixth win of the season.
The story of the night for Beloit was the interior presence of Hailey Johnson (South Milwaukee, Wis.). The forward was a force on both ends of the floor, logging a double-double with a game-high 18 points and 11 rebounds. Johnson's efficiency in the paint and her ability to protect the rim—notching three blocks—anchored Beloit during the game's most critical stretches.
Complementing Johnson's scoring were Bailey Darneal (Colorado Springs, CO) and Kaitlin Davis (Platte City, Mo.), who each added 9 points. Davis, in particular, was a defensive menace, recording a staggering 5 steals that fueled Beloit's transition game.
The first half belonged to Lake Forest. The Foresters led for over 18 minutes of the opening twenty, capitalizing on Beloit's cold shooting (23.3% in the first half). Lake Forest headed into the locker room with a 26-23 lead, seemingly in control of the pace.
However, the momentum shifted decisively in the third quarter. Beloit emerged from the break with renewed intensity, outscoring Lake Forest 19-13 in the period. The Buccaneers began to feast on Forester mistakes, ultimately finishing the game with a 23-9 advantage in points off turnovers.
The defining moment of the game occurred early in the fourth quarter. Trailing or locked in a tight battle for three periods, Beloit ignited a 11-0 scoring run that culminated with 8:33 remaining. This surge gave the Buccaneers their largest lead of the night (8 points) and effectively deflated Lake Forest's momentum.
Beloit's victory was cemented by their work at the free-throw line and their bench depth. The Buccaneers shot 81% from the stripe (17-21) and received 16 points from their reserves, compared to just 12 from the Lake Forest bench.
Despite a late push by the Foresters, Beloit's defensive discipline ensured they never relinquished the lead in the final minutes. The Buccaneers' ability to win the "points in the paint" battle (28-26) and execute under pressure in the second half proved to be the difference.
The Bucs are back on the road on Saturday in Galesburg to face the Knox College Prairie Fire. Tip off from Memorial Gymnasium is set for 3 pm.
