Subscribe to Full Court PressIowa Loses Taylor, Draxten for Balance of Season
By Lee Michaelson
Publisher
University of Iowa sophomore Hannah Draxten will miss the remainder of the season with a herniated disc in her back, program officials announced today. Just Sunday, the Hawkeyes announced that freshman Theirra Taylor had suffered a torn ACL in her right knee and would also miss the balance of the season.
Draxten, a 6-0 guard/forward from Fergus Falls, Minnesota, came off the bench as a freshman, averaging 3.2 points per game and achieving career highs of 13 points against Northwestern and eight boards at Michigan State. She ranked fourth on the team in three-pointers made (23) and attempted (65), her 23 treys ranking as the fifth-best ever for an Iowa freshman.
Draxten missed one game with what was described as a “minor back injury.” This season, however, she has appeared in just four of Iowa’s 13 games, for an average of just shy of 10 minutes and two points per game, as she attempted to play through the pain. She will not be available for the remainder of the season.
“Hannah has suffered with this condition for most of the season,” Head Coach Lisa Bluder said. “She has been incredibly strong in trying to overcome the pain. But, unfortunately the injection has not helped and she has lost mobility. She may even need surgery. We look forward to having a healthy Hannah Draxten next season.”
Taylor also hailed from Minnesota. The 5-11 freshman guard was both an AP and a Pioneer Press first-team all-state selection, averaging 18.6 points, eight boards, 3.6 steals and 2.8 assists per game in her senior year. Taylor also helped guide St. Paul’s Central High School to two state championships during her tenure there, including a perfect 32-0 season during her sophomore year.
Taylor started in eight of the 10 games in which she played this year at Iowa, averaging 8.1 points and 4.9 rebounds, as well as 2.4 assists per game in the early going.
“We feel so badly that Theairra must miss the remainder of this season,” said Coach Bluder in announcing that Taylor would be sidelined for the season. “She was just feeling comfortable and really showing great improvement. She worked so hard to come back from her high school ACL injury. While this second injury is a setback, we know she will have another successful comeback.”
“Obviously, this is a tough blow for our team. We have faced so much adversity. Although we continue to be limited in numbers and experience, I am so proud of our team’s perseverance.”
“This is obviously another devastating loss for our team,” observed Bluder in announcing today that Draxten, too, would be gone for the season. Bluder, who may be becoming more familiar with the hospital wards than the practice court, also lost her lone senior JoAnn Hamlin to a potentially life-threatening blood clot in her right leg in early November. “But, I am proud that our team continues to battle despite the adversity,” Bluder continued.
The Hawkeyes are 7-6 so far this season after dropping Monday’s game, 77-73, to Penn State in overtime.
University of Iowa sophomore Hannah Draxten will miss the remainder of the season with a herniated disc in her back, program officials announced today. Just Sunday, the Hawkeyes announced that freshman Theirra Taylor had suffered a torn ACL in her right knee and would also miss the balance of the season.
Draxten, a 6-0 guard/forward from Fergus Falls, Minnesota, came off the bench as a freshman, averaging 3.2 points per game and achieving career highs of 13 points against Northwestern and eight boards at Michigan State. She ranked fourth on the team in three-pointers made (23) and attempted (65), her 23 treys ranking as the fifth-best ever for an Iowa freshman.
Draxten missed one game with what was described as a “minor back injury.” This season, however, she has appeared in just four of Iowa’s 13 games, for an average of just shy of 10 minutes and two points per game, as she attempted to play through the pain. She will not be available for the remainder of the season.
“Hannah has suffered with this condition for most of the season,” Head Coach Lisa Bluder said. “She has been incredibly strong in trying to overcome the pain. But, unfortunately the injection has not helped and she has lost mobility. She may even need surgery. We look forward to having a healthy Hannah Draxten next season.”
Taylor also hailed from Minnesota. The 5-11 freshman guard was both an AP and a Pioneer Press first-team all-state selection, averaging 18.6 points, eight boards, 3.6 steals and 2.8 assists per game in her senior year. Taylor also helped guide St. Paul’s Central High School to two state championships during her tenure there, including a perfect 32-0 season during her sophomore year.
Taylor started in eight of the 10 games in which she played this year at Iowa, averaging 8.1 points and 4.9 rebounds, as well as 2.4 assists per game in the early going.
“We feel so badly that Theairra must miss the remainder of this season,” said Coach Bluder in announcing that Taylor would be sidelined for the season. “She was just feeling comfortable and really showing great improvement. She worked so hard to come back from her high school ACL injury. While this second injury is a setback, we know she will have another successful comeback.”
“Obviously, this is a tough blow for our team. We have faced so much adversity. Although we continue to be limited in numbers and experience, I am so proud of our team’s perseverance.”
“This is obviously another devastating loss for our team,” observed Bluder in announcing today that Draxten, too, would be gone for the season. Bluder, who may be becoming more familiar with the hospital wards than the practice court, also lost her lone senior JoAnn Hamlin to a potentially life-threatening blood clot in her right leg in early November. “But, I am proud that our team continues to battle despite the adversity,” Bluder continued.
The Hawkeyes are 7-6 so far this season after dropping Monday’s game, 77-73, to Penn State in overtime.
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Originally published Tue, December 29, 2009
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