Dec. 27, 2005
University of Iowa Head Women’s Basketball Coach Lisa Bluder confirmed Tuesday that sophomore center Stacy Schlapkohl tore her anterior cruciate ligament of her right knee in the first half of Iowa’s 74-64 triumph over Creighton last Friday.
Schalpkohl becomes the third Hawkeye starter to suffer an ACL injury in six months and will miss the remainder of the 2005-06 season. Schlapkohl joins small forward Johanna Solverson and point guard Lindsay Richards with season-ending ACL injuries to their right knee.
“This is a big blow to have Stacy go down with an ACL tear, especially with us about to begin Big Ten play,” said Bluder. “She was playing very well and we are going to have to make some major adjustments to counter her injury. We feel so badly that Stacy has to endure this setback. But, she has a great support system that surrounds her, with her parents close by and her teammates, which will help her during her rehab.”
The native of Durant, IA, started Iowa’s first 11 games at center. She ranked fifth in team scoring (6.9) and third in rebounding (3.8) in 21.1 minutes per contest. The 6-3 center scored double figures four times this season, including a season-high 14 vs. Drake on Dec. 18.
The loss of Schlapkohl means freshman Megan Skouby will move into the starting position at center. Skouby ranks second in team scoring (10.4), first in field goal percentage (.622) and blocks (1.64) and fourth in rebounding (3.7).
Iowa’s probable starting lineup in its conference season opener at Indiana will include two freshmen (guard Kristi Smith and center Skouby) and one sophomore (forward Krista VandeVenter).
The Hawkeyes and Hoosiers open league play Thursday at 6:05 p.m. (CST) in Bloomington, IN.