Foresters Drop Midwest Conference Games at Carroll at St. Norbert
Lake Forest is now 12-8 overall and 6-7 in league play

Devon Liebl scored 33 points in the two games combined.

Junior forward Andrea Durante (Bloomingdale, IL/Lake Park) led Lake Forest with 20 points and nine rebounds against Carroll. She made seven of 12 shots from the floor and connected on six of eight free throw attempts. Senior guard Devon Liebl (Brookfield, WI/Milwaukee Pius XI) and freshman guard Susan Hedrick (Geneva, IL/Geneva) also reached double digits in scoring with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Hedrick’s career-high came in only 11 minutes of play, as the freshman shot 4-of-7 from the floor, which included a 3-for-4 shooting performance from three-point range.

Lake Forest trailed by five at the intermission and Carroll’s lead swelled to 14 early in the second half before a three pointer by Hedrick stopped the 9-0 run. The Foresters cut the deficit to five twice in the period and trailed by just four after a four-point play by Liebl with just less than 90 seconds to play. The home team, however, finished the game on an 8-0 run to seal the win.

The Foresters shot 35.6% from the field, made good on 40% of their three point attempts (6-15), and forced Carroll into 21 turnovers while committing just 15, but the Lady Pioneers shot 52.1% from the field in the contest and out-rebounded the visitors 36-29.

Liebl led the way on Saturday at St. Norbert with a game-high 21 points. The senior also added four rebounds and three steals. Durante was the only other Forester to reach double figures in scoring, as the junior netted 10 points. Sophomore forward Nicole Baich (Westchester, IL/Nazareth Academy) led the squad with seven rebounds to go along with her seven points.

Lake Forest shot just 21.7% from the field in the opening period and trailed 29-19 at halftime. Just two minutes into the second half, the Green Knights built a 16-point advantage, but the Foresters chipped away at the deficit and eventually tied the score at 60 on a layup by Liebl with 16 seconds remaining. But on the ensuing possession, St. Norbert scored the game winning basket with just 1.4 seconds to play.

The loss knocked the Foresters out of contention for a ninth consecutive berth in the four-team MWC Championship Tournament. “We’re obviously very disappointed in being eliminated from the tourney,” began head coach Jackie Slaats. “It makes me appreciate the run we had and I hope it helps motivate our younger players to start a new streak next year.”

Lake Forest will host Illinois College on Wednesday (February 8) at 5:30 p.m.

Lake Forest - Carroll Box Score
Lake Forest - St. Norbert Box Score