2000-01 Season Preview
Proven Foresters Gunning for a Repeat

LAKE FOREST, IL -- With the much-coveted Midwest Conference title in their back pocket and the thrill of an NCAA Tournament berth still fresh in their minds, Lake Forest is poised for their next challenge - repeating. 

Head Coach Jackie Slaats, the 2000 MWC and State of Illinois Coach of the Year, is eager to defend the MWC Championship. "Winning the conference title was extremely fulfilling for our program because we had been so close the past few years. And playing in the NCAA Tournament was a tremendous experience for our team. Our challenge of winning back-to-back titles will be even greater, but, at the same time, that much more fulfilling if we can accomplish such a feat." 

Slaats guided the Foresters to MWC titles in 1992, 1994, and 2000 and NCAA appearances in 1994 and 2000.

The 1999-2000 Foresters won a school-record 21 games and lost just four times. The 20-win season was the team's third consecutive and accompanied by a Lake Forest sweep of the MWC Player (Alison Grubbs) and Coach of the Year (Slaats) honors for the second time in three years.

Guards
Any discussion of the Forester backcourt, or any phase of Lake Forest's 2000-01 team for that matter, cannot begin without the name Alison Grubbs popping up. 

Grubbs, a three-time All-American (including a Second Team tag by Division III Basketball Online last season) and First Team All-MWC selection, led the nation in three-point shooting accuracy last year by canning 47.9% (56/117) of her shots from beyond the arc. She was also third in the nation for free throw shooting (86.4% (108/125)). 

The reigning MWC Player of the Year is more than just a scorer, according to Slaats, "Because she puts up such consistent numbers, Alison has been tabbed as simply a shooter. But she brings so much more to our team. She sets a tremendous example, especially with her work ethic and drive, and one would be hard-pressed to find a true weakness in her game."

Indeed, Grubbs averaged 18.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 3.2 steals per game last season. She led Lake Forest in scoring, assists, and steals, and was third in rebounding.

"Led by Alison, our backcourt is the strongest part of our game, both in terms of leadership and consistency," added Slaats. "Even though we lost a great deal of athleticism when Melissa Schneider graduated, that loss should create opportunities for others to step up." 

Senior Karla Gribble and junior Jenni Klusman will team-up with Grubbs to give the Foresters an experienced and quick backcourt. 

Gribble, one of the league's most well-rounded and consistent performers, averaged 7.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 2.4 steals per game last year, while shooting 75.0% (51/68) from the free throw line. She was a Second Team All-Conference selection last year.

"Karla is someone we can always count on," added Slaats. "She is such a smart player and she makes the players around her better with her tremendous court sense."

Klusman made 38.0% (19/50) of her three-point shots last year while scoring 99 points and dishing out 38 assists.

"Karla and Jenni have both shown tremendous improvement from year to year, and we are expecting great seasons for both of them."

Juniors Sarah Klerk, who will rejoin the team for the second semester after spending the first semester studying overseas, and Nikki Thompson give Lake Forest solid depth in the backcourt. An athletic group of newcomers -- Sherry Wagner, Aja Brown, and Abbey Jennings -- will also compete for playing time. 

Forwards
Senior Kim Magee and sophomore Katie McCants are the projected starting forwards for Lake Forest. 

Magee, a co-captain along with Grubbs, pulled down 5.6 rebounds per game and shot over 50% from the field last season, her first as a starter.

"Kim gives us tremendous leadership and effort, as well as a quick post who can beat players down the court and make plays on our press. We're expecting her to have a great season and make a difference in this league."

McCants, who led the MWC in field goal percentage (61.2%) as a rookie, played in the team's first 11 games and the last six, with a knee injury sidelining her for the middle of the year. She averaged 8.6 points and 3.7 rebounds.

"When healthy, Katie was as dominant as any post in the league last year. She has worked hard to recover from her knee injury and is ready to contribute this year."

Beyond Magee and McCants, the Forester forwards will have some holes to fill according to Slaats; "Our post play is somewhat of a question mark heading into this season, especially our depth at the forward positions. Kim and Katie have logged a lot of minutes in the past, but with the loss of Addi Murphy to graduation, we will need our newcomers to play valuable minutes."

Murphy was a First Team All-Conference selection in both 1998-99 and 1999-2000, and led the Foresters in rebounding the past two seasons, including 6.1 boards per game last year. "We have to figure out who is going to make up those rebounds. It will more than likely have to be a team effort."

Junior Bridget Berg and a pair of freshmen - Hayley O'Donnell and Tangara Cross - will have the opportunity to step into key roles this season. "We need to have significant contributions from Bridget and our freshmen this year," added Slaats. "Our freshmen will make us an even more athletic and deeper team than in the past."

Schedule
"We are facing one of the toughest schedules that we have played since I have been there," Slaats said.

Lake Forest's 2000-01 schedule will begin with the Forester Tip-Off Tournament, featuring Hope College, Wheaton College (IL), and Bowdoin College. The annual tournament promises to be, ".a great Division III women's basketball event," according to Slaats.

The Foresters turnaround and play at the three-time defending NCAA Division III national champion Washington University's (MO) tournament over Thanksgiving break.

"It is our hope that playing a tough non-conference schedule will prepare us for conference play and translate into a successful Midwest Conference season."

"I feel good about the talent level on this team and the senior-leadership at the top of our line-up," Slaats said. "That combination has proven to be a 'championship formula' for us in the past. Our talent and leadership ability within our senior class is outstanding and I feel our newcomers our top-notch, so I am excited about the foundation of this team. The ability of these groups to mesh together will be a key to our success."