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The bigger you are, the harder you fall. It’s a true statement when you’re the lead scorer and rebounder of the 22-3 Lady Vols. The sixth ranked Lady Vols lost a projected number one WNBA draft pick; 6-foot-3 Isabelle Harrison who will miss the rest of her college career due to a torn ACL.
In 20 games this season, Harrison averaged 12.8 points and 9.1 rebounds. Her draft selection could slip, but the future is still bright for her professional career. Losing Izzy not only broke the hearts of lady Vol fans, but also NCAA brackets.
After spraining her right knee in the season opener, Izzy missed five games and has worn a brace to protect her on the hardwood. Early in the second half of Sunday’s game against the eleventh ranked Kentucky Wildcats a routine rebound went wrong and Izzy needed more than a brace. The scream on the way down said it all and fans in Thompson-Boling Arena saw their NCAA bracket flash before their eyes.
Izzy’s injury happened early in the second half of the game for the 6th ranked Lady Vols and Tennessee went on to beat Kentucky 72-58. Tennessee senior point guard, Ariel Massengale took control and played for Izzy. Massengale scored 17 points in the second half.
This isn’t the Lady Vols first loss to injury. Tennessee coach Holly Warlick has been challenged with injuries even before the season started. Mercedes Russell had to redshirt after the 6-foot-6 center underwent surgery on both of her feet before the season started. Junior forward Jasmine Jones hasn’t seen any playing time since December 20th due to lingering concussion symptoms. Sophomore guard Jordan Reynolds, who was hit in the nose a few days before against Mississippi, started in Sunday’s game against Kentucky but only played two minutes into the game before she “got a little dizzy” said Warlick.
“We’ve faced adversity before this season,” senior forward Cierra Burdick said after the Kentucky game. “We’ve taken some blows, and we continue to get up. We’ve got to get up together and come together as one and just play tough, play hard and play for our injured sisters. We’ll continue to work. Everyone goes through tough times during the season. You can let it break you or you can let it make you. We’ve just got to let it make us.”
Izzy said in a university statement that “I know my teammates will use this as motivation to pursue the ultimate goal.” Izzy finishes her Lady Vols career with 1,071 points and 778 rebounds. She shot 50.4 percent from the field in 111 games for Tennessee.