Lake Forest College Sports Information
April 16, 2002
Contact: Mike Wajerski, SID

2002-03 Preview: The Next Step
  

The 2001-02 team set school records for points scored and steals. Speedy Kandyce Green led the squad in both categories.
LAKE FOREST, IL - While Lake Forest's three consecutive Midwest Conference Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances are quite an accomplishment, Head Coach Jackie Slaats and the Foresters are looking for a little more in 2002-03. "We've proven ourselves to be a respected team within the conference," Slaats explains. "However, we're also anxious to take the next step and establish our program as one of the best in the country."

Returning for her senior season is Katie McCants, a two-time First Team All-MWC selection. McCants will likely finish her career ranked fifth on the school's all-time rebound list and could climb as high as third in scoring. If the Foresters claim the 2002-03 league title, McCants will be the only player in the program's history to play on four MWC Championship teams.

While McCants and (then) freshman Kandyce Green led the 2001-02 squad with 11.1 points per game, six others scored in double figures at least once and the Foresters had seven different leading scorers during the course of the season. The contributions from various players were quite a luxury for Slaats, who adds, "Last year was great because we had a different player step up each game and put us in a position to win. It didn't matter whether it was a freshman or a senior having a good night. If someone was playing well, we got her into the game and gave her an opportunity to succeed."

Lake Forest, who was already known for an aggressive style of play, used its depth to pick up the pace even more in 2001-02. The result was the highest scoring average (73.7 ppg) and the most steals (349) and three-pointers (334) in school history. The team also ranked among the nation's leaders in scoring, scoring margin, rebound margin, three-pointers made, and field goal percentage, both overall and from three-point range.

Since the Foresters lost just one starter to graduation, there is optimism for even greater program success in 2002-03. The team will begin the season with the annual Forester Tip-Off Tournament and will play three games in Hawaii during the week after Christmas. All 15 games in January and February are against MWC foes, against whom Lake Forest owns a 68-9 (88.3%) regular season record over the past five seasons.