The Lawrence University Women’s Basketball team split a pair of games with two Illinois schools this past weekend. The Vikings lost Friday to Lake Forest 67-54, but defeated Illinois College 68-66.Friday night the Vikings tried to sweep the Foresters. The Vikings won earlier this season on a Claire Getzoff buzzer-beater. Unfortunately, this one was to be all Foresters.
Lake Forest jumped out to an early eight-point lead, and spent the rest of the game ahead. The Vikings came back in the first half to tie the game several times, but the Foresters took a 31-29 lead into the half.
In the second half the Vikings had no chance. Lake Forest came out and began the second half with a 16-2 run, and the game was all but over.
The teams played evenly the rest of the way, but LU let the Foresters get too far ahead, and Lake Forest streaked to the 67-54 victory.
Shannon Clerken led all scorers with 22 for Lake Forest. The Vikings had three players in double figures: Jenny Jetel had 15, Felice Porrata had 13 and Getzoff had 12.
Saturday afternoon the Vikings went to Jacksonville to take on Illinois College. The Vikings and Lady Blues were tied for the fourth and final playoff spot coming into the game.
The first half was one of streaks; the Vikings had a five-point lead at one time, and IC had a six-point at another time. The scores evened out and the game was tied at 24 at the half.
Lawrence predominated after that. They led for most of the second half, getting the lead up to as much as seven points at one instance. However, IC came back. After a lay-up and free throw by Angie Bossingham, the game was tied with 57 seconds to play.
Felice Porrata put the Vikings ahead 65-63 with a jumper with 32 seconds left, and the Lady Blues would have a possession to tie or take the lead. After a missed shot, Bossingham hit a three pointer and IC took a 66-65 lead with 20 seconds left.
For the last possession, the Vikings went to their freshman phenom, Getzoff. Getzoff had 24 points coming into the situation. She took the pass from Becca Reason with three seconds to go, and nailed her second game winner of the year as the Vikings escaped Jacksonville with a 68-66 win.
Getzoff led all scorers with 27 points. Reason and Porrata had 10 apiece for LU. The Lady Blues were led by Bonnie Meiners, who had 20.
The win put the Vikings in sole possession of fourth place in the MWC. With three games remaining in the MWC schedule, the Vikings hold the fourth and final spot in the playoffs.
The Vikings’ next game will be tomorrow at Carroll College. The Vikings defeated Carroll earlier this season by a score of 55-44.
Tip-off is 3:00 p.m.