Michelle Harakas, one of two Illinois State players to start all 18 games this season, will be out of the lineup for at least two weeks because of a stress fracture in her right foot.
Harakas, a 6-foot sophomore from Redford, Mich., was averaging 5.7 points and 2.6 rebounds in 17.6 minutes of play. Redbird head coach Jenny Yopp, whose team plays host to Northern Iowa at 7:05 p.m. Friday in Redbird Arena, said Harakas was surprised at the diagnosis made Thursday by Dr. Gerald Paul.
Michelle is such a tough kid, she was shocked when the doctor told her it was a stress fracture, said Yopp, whose Redbirds are 5-13 overall, 3-6 in the Missouri Valley Conference. She felt pain, but didnt think it was that serious. But, right now, its important that she give it some time to heal.
Harakas starting spot was undecided prior to Thursdays practice. Yopp thought her choice would likely be between 5-foot-11 junior Stacey White and 6-foot-5 junior Zora Skrabalova.
Were definitely going to move Stacey from a wing back to a post position, said Yopp, who lost freshman post player Sophie Tirtiaux earlier in the year to a stress fracture in her leg. We need the depth there and Stacey has the experience. After practice, Ill talk to my staff and well decide on the starting lineup.
According to Redbird athletics trainer Yvonne Logan, Harakas will be reevaluated by Dr. Paul in two weeks. Harakas will miss a minimum of four games. The 2001 Ladywood High School graduate had seen action in all of the first 45 games of her college career. She and point guard Taren OBrien were the only Illinois State players to start all of the first 18 games this season.
