Redbird womens basketball athletic trainer Yvonne Logan has had her hands full lately with injuries and illnesses rummaging through players and staff. But Logan had good news to report on the progress of sophomore guard
Jaci McCormack and freshman forward
Sophie Tirtiaux, both sitting out the season with injuries.
Logan, herself battling the chest congestion and cough which has slowed several players and head coach
Jenny Yopp the past two weeks, was all smiles when talking about McCormacks ankle and Tirtiauxs upper leg.
Jacis progress is awesome, said Logan, in her fifth season with Redbird basketball. Within two weeks, we feel she could begin getting involved in practice.
McCormack, ISUs No. 2 scorer last year, had ankle surgery in November. Tirtiaux, a Belgium native who led Urbana High School to a team record for wins last season, was sidelined by a stress fracture in her upper leg after appearing in just one game.
A bone scan showed the stress fracture is healed, said Logan. Sophie has started bicycle workouts for the first time since November with limited pain. Toward the end of the season, we believe she can begin to practice with the team.
The news on sophomore center
Sharon Blade, who has missed eight games with a foot problem, was not quite as promising as hoped earlier in the week. Blade saw podiatrist Dr. Gerald Paul at midweek, and it was decided she wouldnt be able to play Friday against Evansville or Sunday against Southern Illinois.
Her foot is still painful, said Logan. She isnt able to run properly. Sharon will see Dr. Paul again next Tuesday and well go from there. For now, shes doing light work during practice.
The Redbirds also could be without freshman
Chris Kutschinski this weekend. Kutschinski missed the most recent game against Drake because of a tendon injury in her leg. Starting with Fridays shooting practice before the Evansville game, Kutschinskis status will be day-to-day according to Logan.
Chris injury is to a tendon which attaches muscle to the leg bone, said Logan. Its an inflammation, so you cant predict how it will feel from one day to the next.
According to Logan, sophomore forward
Stacey White continues to play major minutes despite painful shin splints in both legs. The legs are wrapped in braces before each practice and each game. Junior guard
Steph Reichle and sophomore guard
Taren O'Brien both are playing through knee problems.
But the bugs--the players name for two recent viruses to hit the team--are all but gone, according to Logan. At the same time, a stomach virus and the chest virus affecting Logan herself were crisscrossing the team. The chest problem hit Yopp especially hard, with the coughing and congestion affecting her voice. Logan said some players continued to have a cough, but most are feeling better than they did last week. Yopp admitted Wednesday she felt better than she had in two weeks.
It has been tough on them, said Logan, but I think were through the worst of it."
