Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Player Update (10-18-04)
10/18/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana forward Jenny DeMuth will miss the 2004-05 season due to a torn ACL in her left knee, IU head coach Kathi Bennett announced Monday morning.
DeMuth, Indiana's leading scorer (18.3 ppg) and rebounder (7.7 rpg) last season, injured her knee shortly after the team began their first official practice on Oct. 16. She underwent an MRI on Saturday afternoon.
A 5-10 senior from Highland, Ind., DeMuth was tabbed to the preseason All-Big Ten team last week as selected by the media. In 2003-04, DeMuth was a second team All-Big Ten honoree selection by the media and third team All-Big Ten selection by the conference coaches. She was the highest-scoring non-senior in the Big Ten last season and was the only conference player to rank in the top five in the Big Ten in both scoring and rebounding. She ranked fifth in each category with 18.3 points per game and 7.7 rebounds per game, respectively. DeMuth finished the season with 532 points, a mark that ranks fifth in school history. In addition, she eclipsed the 1,000-point scoring mark for her career on Feb. 19 against Michigan, becoming the 18th player and only the eighth junior in school history to accomplish the feat.
While DeMuth's injury is a significant loss to the Hoosiers, IU coach Kathi Bennett knows her club will grow from the challenge.
"Jenny is the heart and soul of our team. There is no doubt that she will be missed tremendously," Bennett said. "But we still have everyone back from last year, and I have faith that our remaining players will step up and make up for the loss."
Although DeMuth will be sidelined this winter, she will still be an active part of the Indiana program.
"It is disappointing but I am very thankful to have a lot of support from my family, teammates and coaches," said DeMuth. "I am confident that with the help of our athletic training staff, I will be back in full strength for next season. Our team still had a lot to be excited about for the upcoming year, we have some great returning players that can really contribute. I still look forward to being their leader and helping them out in anyway I can."
