Sophomore Kim Wickert recorded a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. She also added three assists and three blocks.
The Lady Pioneers jumped out to a 28-23 halftime lead then shot 56.6% in the second-half while holding the Foresters to 32.4% from the field.
Andrea Durante led Lake Forest, 12-7 overall, 6-6 in the MWC, with 20 points while Devon Liebl and Susan Hedrick added 12 and 11 points, respectively.
The win improves Carroll to 16-3 overall, 10-2 in the Midwest Conference, and earns the Lady Pioneers a trip to the post-season conference championship tournament for the first time since the 2000-2001 season.
Carroll was not projected to qualify for the league’s post-season tournament in a preseason poll of MWC coaches. They were tabbed to finish sixth.
“The preseason poll definitely gave us some incentive to prove many people wrong,” said head coach Kris Jacobsen. “Getting back to the MWC Tournament was a goal all along but now we are feeling confident that we can compete with anybody in the league. I am very proud of this team. We have had to repeatedly work to gain respect and I think we have finally earned a little.”
The Lady Pioneers return to action Saturday afternoon when they host Knox College at 1:00 p.m.