Spring Break
Women's Basketball: Guard Thomas likely out for rest of season
Collin Whitchurch / Assistant Sports Editor
Issue date: 2/9/09 Section: Sports
Ashley Thomas will not play again this season.
The junior guard who missed the last two games with an injured back learned Saturday that she will have to wear a plastic back brace for 6-8 weeks, essentially ending her season.
Thomas said the injury she sustained to her back more than a year ago had not healed correctly, causing her pain as she sat out the Panther victories against Illinois-Chicago Wednesday and Southeast Missouri Saturday.
She got an MRI Thursday to see the extent of the injury and found out Saturday that she will have to wear the brace.
"It's really hard because this is the year we've all been talking about for a while," Thomas said. "It's our last season with the seniors, and we've been together for three years, so it's really hard. But I'm glad we're doing well."
Thomas has not completely ruled out returning this season. She said she is going to get re-evaluated after 3-4 weeks, but knows a return is not likely because 6-8 weeks from now would put the season into the second round of the NCAA Tournament, meaning Eastern would not only have to make the tournament, but also win a game against a likely-higher seeded team in the first round.
Collin Whitchurch can be reached at 581-7944 or cfwhitchurch@eiu.edu.
The junior guard who missed the last two games with an injured back learned Saturday that she will have to wear a plastic back brace for 6-8 weeks, essentially ending her season.
Thomas said the injury she sustained to her back more than a year ago had not healed correctly, causing her pain as she sat out the Panther victories against Illinois-Chicago Wednesday and Southeast Missouri Saturday.
She got an MRI Thursday to see the extent of the injury and found out Saturday that she will have to wear the brace.
"It's really hard because this is the year we've all been talking about for a while," Thomas said. "It's our last season with the seniors, and we've been together for three years, so it's really hard. But I'm glad we're doing well."
Thomas has not completely ruled out returning this season. She said she is going to get re-evaluated after 3-4 weeks, but knows a return is not likely because 6-8 weeks from now would put the season into the second round of the NCAA Tournament, meaning Eastern would not only have to make the tournament, but also win a game against a likely-higher seeded team in the first round.
Collin Whitchurch can be reached at 581-7944 or cfwhitchurch@eiu.edu.
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