The Midwest Conference released its 2025-26 Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll Wednesday morning and Lake Forest College was seventh on the list.
Voting is done by the MWC head volleyball coaches. Each coach votes for the other eight schools in the league in order of predicted finish. Points are assigned in reverse order of voting (eight points for first, seven for second, etc.). Coaches may not vote for their own teams.
Ripon College was atop the poll with 62 points and was in the top spot on seven of nine ballots. Cornell College edged out Lawrence University 53-52 for second place in the poll and the teams split the other two first place votes. Illinois College and Grinnell College tied for fourth with 39 points apiece and Knox College was sixth with 34. The Foresters' 18 points were two more than Monmouth College and seven ahead of Beloit College.
Lake Forest has 10 returning players from last year's team that tied for seventh in the league standings. Among them are team captains Jamie Springstead and Careah Baitlon, who combined for 279 points, 134 rebounds, and 71 assists last season.
The Foresters' 18th season with Tamlyn Tills as head coach will begin with two games at the Webster Tip-Off Classic this weekend. The team's league schedule will start at Lawrence on December 6Â and conclude at Monmouth on February 18. The top four teams in the conference will qualify for the MWC Tournament, which will be hosted by the league champion February 27-28.
The Foresters are looking to reach the MWC Tournament for the 18th time since its inception in 1989.
Â
| PLACE |
TEAM (First Place Votes) |
POINTS |
| 1 |
Ripon College (6) |
62 |
| 2 |
Cornell College (1) |
53 |
| 3 |
Lawrence University (1) |
52 |
| 4t |
Illinois College
Grinnell College |
39 |
| 6 |
Knox College |
34 |
| 7 |
Lake Forest College |
18 |
| 8 |
Monmouth College |
16 |
| 9 |
Beloit College |
11 |
