Foresters Denied a Spot in MWC Tournament

Photos by Sydney Gardner
Photos by Sydney Gardner

Seniors K.C. Stralka and Michelle Ricolcol combined for 19 points in their final collegiate game but the Lake Forest College women's basketball team was defeated 66-46 by visiting Carroll University on Saturday.

Stralka finished with a team-high 10 points and 10 rebounds for her 11th double-double of the season. Ricolcol was next on the squad with nine points.

Lake Forest committed a season-low nine turnovers on Saturday but shot just 28.8 percent from the field and was out-rebounded 48-35. Carroll shot 37.3 percent from the field and outscored the Foresters 22-4 from the free throw line.

Stralka scored the game's first basket but that turned out to be the home team's only lead of the day. Carroll closed out the first period on a 12-2 run and led 24-9 after 10 minutes. The Pioneers finished off the first half on a 9-0 run and took a 38-17 advantage into the locker room at halftime. The lead remained at least 20 points until a basket by Stralka made the score 62-43 with just 4:53 remaining in the contest. The Foresters would get no closer.

Lake Forest finished the 2015-16 season 11-12 overall and 9-9 in Midwest Conference play, one game shy of qualifying for next weekend's four-team MWC Tournament. Carroll completed the year 9-14 overall and a game behind the Foresters in the league standings.

Stralka and Ricolcol will be Lake Forest's only losses to graduation in May. They combined for 1,462 points, 832 rebounds, 266 assists, 188 steals, and 141 blocked shots over the last four years. Stralka's 220 rebounds this season are the third-highest total in program history and she ranks eighth in team annals with 534 career boards and second with 98 blocked shots. Ricolcol's .833 free throw percentage on the year is tied for the 10th-best mark in team history.