Dec. 29, 2005
Normal, Ill. -
Starting guard Ashley Sandstead, who averaged in double figures scoring during the first nine Illinois State University women's basketball games this season, will likely miss the remainder of the season because of an anterior cruciate ligament injury to her left knee.
In the past two weeks, the Redbirds have lost 40 percent of their starting lineup as Sandstead joins freshman center Nicolle Lewis, also a starter, on the sidelines awaiting surgery. Lewis suffered a torn ACL in her right knee in Illinois State's win Dec. 18 at UTEP. Both will have surgery in January.
Sandstead, a 5-foot-10 sophomore, averaged 10.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game for the first nine games while playing 30.4 minutes per game. Her 14 three-pointers are second on the team and her nine steals are tied for No. 3 on the roster. As a freshman last year, she led the team in there-point field goal percentage.
Losing Sandstead slices the number of available players on the Redbird roster to 10, and replacing her enthusiastic style on the court will be tough, according to Redbird head coach Robin Pingeton.
"I feel sick for Ashley and this is another tremendous loss for this team," said Pingeton, whose Redbirds are 5-4 this season. "She has a combination of charisma and energy on the court that we don't really have in any other player. But, as we have told our players, the one thing we can control right now is how we respond to this adversity."
Lewis' injury came just before junior guard Megan McCracken was able to return from a hip injury which caused her to miss the first eight games of the season. Pingeton knows her team has been hit hard by injuries, but believes it can strike back.
"Losing two starters to injury is tough, but I have a lot of confidence in our players and how they can respond," said Pingeton.
The Redbirds open the Missouri Valley Conference season with a 7:05 p.m. Friday contest with Southern Illinois at Redbird Arena.
