LAKE FOREST, Ill. - The UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team won the Lake Forest Tip-Off Tournament behind 25 forced turnovers in a 58-53 win over Lake Forest here tonight.

The Blugolds started slowly falling behind 9-0 after the Foresters hit their first three shots from the field. Lake Forest continued to put the pressure on offensively increasing their lead to 17-4 with 13:16 left in the opening half.

Eau Claire came back to within one with a 16-4 run over the next nine minutes. Jessica Dickey (Sr.-White Bear Lake, MN/Cretin-Derham Hall) hit jumpers on consecutive possessions and Jenny Charboneau (Fr.-Blaine, MN) hit two free throws ton conclude the run.

The Foresters countered with a 13-3 run to close the half leading 34-23. The Blugolds shot only 24.1 percent for the half while Lake Forest shot 48 percent.

Eau Claire turned up the defensive pressure in the second half cutting the lead to two with 13:21 left. The Blugolds took their first lead less than two minutes later when Joanna Leafblad (Sr.-Eau Claire/Memorial) hit a three-pointer to put Eau Claire up 44-43.

The lead exchanged hands six times over the next five minutes before the Blugolds took the lead for good at 52-50 with 4:21 left. Lake Forest closed within one but Michelle Burns (Fr.-Eau Claire/North) made a layup with just over a minute left and Dickey hit two free throws with two seconds left to seal the win.

The Blugold defense held the Foresters to just 30.4 percent shooting in the second half while Eau Claire shot 43.3 percent for the half.

Katie Murphy (Sr.-La Crosse/Aquinas) and Burns tied for team scoring honors with 11 a piece. Murphy added a team-high five steals while Burns led in rebounding with eight. Dickey added nine points, five rebounds and four steals.

The Blugolds improve to 2-0 on the season while Lake Forest drops to 1-1.

Eau Claire will open up their home schedule when they host St. Norbert Tuesday at Zorn Arena. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

Eau Claire-Lake Forest Box Score

- JL -