Foresters Win at Illinois College to Stay Undefeated in Midwest Conference
Clerkin pours in 20 points and grabs 14 rebounds 
  

Shannon Clerkin led the team with 20 points and 14 rebounds. 

Junior forward Shannon Clerkin (Barneveld, WI/Barneveld) led Lake Forest with 20 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. She shot 7-12 from the field and 6-9 from the free throw line. The outing marked Clerkin's fourth double double of the year, and equaled the fourth time this season the junior has led the team in both scoring and rebounding. 

Senior guard Sherry Wagner (Chicago, IL/Mother McAuley) added 10 points and three steals in the win. In each of the last three contests, Wagner has reached double digits in scoring, raising her points per game average to 6.5. She also leads the team in free throw shooting (81.3%). 

Illinois College went on a 9-0 run to close out the first half and post a 40-28 halftime lead. The Lady Blues shot 65% from the field in the first half and were perfect from behind the arc (8-8). 

However, Lake Forest stormed back in the second half to tie the hosts at 45 with 10:46 remaining. Both sides exchanged buckets until sophomore Devon Liebl (Milwaukee, WI/Milwaukee Pius XI) drained a three point shot to put the Foresters ahead by two with just under eight minutes left. She finished the game with seven points. Lake Forest sealed the win by connecting on 16 of its final 21 free throws. 

Offensively, Illinois College struggled in the second half, shooting 25% from the field. The Foresters made 12 of 27 field goals in the half, outscoring the home team 41-21 and shooting 44.4%. Overall, Lake Forest outrebounded the hosts 38-33 and forced them into 23 turnovers. 

The Foresters will head to Wisconsin for a pair of conference games this weekend. On Friday (January 23), Lake Forest will take on Beloit College (3-9, 1-5), then will battle Ripon College on Saturday (January 24) afternoon. Ripon is 10-3 overall and 6-0 in league action. 

By Franklyn Beckford

Lake Forest - Illinois College Box Score