Kitley not the only hurt star entering postseason
The health of Elizabeth Kitley, Molly Davis and Mackenzie Holmes could go a long way in determining how far Virginia Tech, Indiana and Iowa will go in their conference tournaments this week and the NCAA Tournament later this month.
All three suffered injuries on Sunday in the their teams’ regular-season finales. The teams don’t open up their conference tournaments until Friday.
Kitley, the 11th-ranked Hokies’ the two-time ACC Player of the Year, appeared to suffer a non-contact injury in the third quarter. Coach Kenny Brooks would only say that it was a lower extremity injury. The senior went down hard after a transition shot attempt and left for the locker room before returning to the bench.
“We don’t know anything yet,” Brooks said on a conference Zoom on Monday, “and so, obviously, we’re just waiting and praying for good results.”
On Tuesday, Kitley said on ACC Network: “I’m feeling pretty good. … I’m focusing on rehab and taking it day-by-day.”
Davis injured her right knee in the No. 3 Hawkeyes’ win over Ohio State on Sunday. Coach Lisa Bluder said on Monday in a statement that it was a non-season-ending injury
The 5-foot-7 guard is expected to undergo physical therapy next week to get ready for the post-season.
“While we feel for Molly that she got injured during Senior Day, we are so thankful that the injury she sustained is not season-ending,” Bluder said. “Our program has appreciated everyone’s support and prayers as we look forward to her return at some point during the postseason.”
After Davis injured her knee in the first half, she returned to the court in a wheelchair and was pushed out to halfcourt for the Senior Day ceremony.
Holmes hurt her left knee in the third quarter on Sunday when she made contact with a Maryland player. The star center hobbled when she landed and headed to the locker room. She returned to the bench later in the game and participated in the postgame senior ceremony.
The fifth-year senior, who leads Indiana in scoring and rebounding, had to miss time in the past because of injuries to that same knee.
Indiana coach Teri Moren said on Monday that Holmes and Lilly Meister, who hurt her ankle, were doing better.