Foresters Drop Close One at Illinois College
Liebl records double-double

Bauer recorded career-highs in points, rebounds, and steals.

Junior guard Devon Liebl (Milwaukee, WI/Milwaukee Pius XI) led Lake Forest with a season-high 15 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore guard Lizzy Bauer (Madison, WI/Madison West) established new career-bests with 14 points, seven rebounds, and six steals. Senior guard/forward Alissa Mildebrath (Carol Stream, IL/West Chicago) scored six points, pulled down five rebounds, led the team with four assists, and added four steals.

The Foresters shot 30.9% from the floor, their second-lowest shooting percentage of the season. The visitors knocked down seven of 19 (36.8%) three-point attempts and shot 11-for-20 (55%) from the free throw line. Illinois College shot 35.7% from the field, made just three three-pointers in 20 attempts (15%) and connected on 12 of 22 (54.5%) foul shots. The Lady Blues out-rebounded Lake Forest 41-40 and both teams committed 29 turnovers.

The game was tied at two, seven, and eight before a 15-6 Lady Blue run gave the home team a 23-14 lead with fewer than seven minutes to play in the first half. The Foresters scored nine consecutive points in a two-minute span to tie the score and closed out the period on an 11-2 run to take a 34-29 lead in to intermission.

Illinois College scored the first nine points of the second half and did not allow Lake Forest to score in the period’s first five-and-a-half minutes. Eight straight Forester points gave the visitors a 42-38 lead before a 15-1 run by the Lady Blues put them ahead 52-43 with three minutes to play. Lake Forest cut the margin to two points (54-52) with 58 seconds remaining but could get no closer.

The Foresters will continue conference play Saturday (January 8) afternoon when they host Grinnell College (3-5, 1-1 MWC) at 1:00.