June 26, 2006
University of Iowa Head Women’s Basketball Coach Lisa Bluder announced Monday that forward Johanna Solverson tore the anterior cruciate ligament on her right knee for the second time in as many years.
Solverson, a fifth-year senior, suffered the injury during a Game Time League contest last Thursday in North Liberty. An MRI conducted Friday confirmed the tear. Solverson sustained her first ACL injury in July 2005 in a “pick-up” game in Chicago.
“The injury occurred on a fast break and I knew when it happened,” explained Solverson. “I was kind of hoping that I just tweaked the knee, but that’s not the case. I am going to sit down with Coach Bluder in the near future to discuss my options.”
“I can not express how badly I feel for Johanna with this latest injury to her ACL,” said Bluder. “Johanna was looking great in our post season workouts and we were planning on her being a significant part of our team next season. This is an enormous loss for our program and our depth at the wing position for next year. We will regroup just like we have done in the past and remain positive as we look forward to another successful season.”
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“The injury occurred on a fast break and I knew when it happened. I was kind of hoping that I just tweaked the knee, but that’s not the case. I am going to sit down with Coach Bluder in the near future to discuss my options.”
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Solverson, who is the only senior on the Hawkeyes’ roster, played in all but one game her first three seasons. The only game she missed was vs. Kansas State on Dec. 12, 2003 due to an ankle injury. One of Iowa’s most versatile players ever, she boasts a career average of 8.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.02 apg and 1.67 spg in 94 games.
During the 2004-05 campaign, Solverson became only the second Iowa player to amass over 350 points, 125 assists and rebounds and 70 steals in a single season (Michelle Edwards). She averaged 10.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.12 assists and 2.12 steals in 33 contests. Her 4.12 assists average ranked third in the Big Ten and led all conference juniors.
The native of Lake Zurich, IL, ranks ninth in Iowa career assists (284), 12th in steals (157), 20th in rebounding (408) and 29th in scoring (802). She has scored in double figures 34 times in her career, including 17 times her junior season.
Solverson was named to the KCRG-TV9 Hawkeye Challenge all-Tournament team her freshman and junior seasons and was recognized on the 2003 all-Big Ten Freshman Team. She tied a Carver-Hawkeye Arena record for 3-point field goal percentage when she drained all four 3-point attempts vs. Southern Illinois on Nov. 19, 2004.
Iowa will have to play a majority, if not all, of the 2006-07 season with two small forwards, sophomore Wendy Ausdemore and junior Jenee Graham.