Lake Forest College Sports Information
February 27, 2003
Contact: Mike Wajerski, SID

USA Today Ranks Lake Forest 24th in the Nation Entering MWC Tourney
Team is 21-2 for first time in school history
  

Head Coach Jackie Slaats and the Foresters are looking for a fourth straight MWC title.
LAKE FOREST, IL - The USA Today/ESPN/Women's Basketball Coaches Association released its NCAA Division III national rankings Thursday (February 27) and Lake Forest College was listed 24th. The Foresters are 21-2 heading into this weekend's (February 28-March 1) Midwest Conference Championship Tournament, hosted by St. Norbert College in DePere, Wisconsin. The team finished its league schedule with a 14-2 record and second-place finish in the standings.

Lake Forest is led by head coach Jackie Slaats, who has won more than three-fourths (296-98) of her games since taking over the reigns of the school's women's basketball program prior to the 1986-87 season. The Foresters have claimed four conference championships under her direction, including each of the last three.

For the team to win a fourth straight title, it will first have to win twice this weekend. In Friday's early (5:00 p.m.) semifinal, the Foresters will take on Ripon College (19-4, 13-3 MWC). Saturday's 2:00 p.m. Championship Game will feature the Lake Forest-Ripon winner and the winner of Friday's 7:00 p.m. semifinal between Lawrence University (13-10, 10-6) and host St. Norbert (19-4, 15-1).