By ADAM DUNFORD
dunford@du2.byu.edu
A torn ACL during last year's Midnight Madness ended one Cougar's season before it began. But after a year of rehabilitation, 5-foot-10-inch guard Renae Hansen is looking to play again this year.
'I feel great. I recovered well. I'm rehabilitated and ready to play,' Hansen said.
The 21-year-old junior from Barnwell, Alberta, averaged 12.2 points a game during the 1996-97 season, making her the team's second highest scorer after fellow Canadian Kari Gallup. While shooting a .388 from the field, Hansen threatened defensively as well, grabbing 49 steals in 28 games.
But Hansen hasn't posted numbers of any kind since March 1997. The last time she suited up to play was Oct. 17, during Midnight Madness.
Hansen was traveling down the court on a fast break when the injury occurred. Women's coach Trent Shippen watched from the sidelines during the 10-minute scrimmage when Hansen fell.
'It was a really ugly, freaky situation,' Shippen said. 'She planted normally, her knees buckled, and she just dropped to the floor.'
Although doctors originally thought the injury was a torn left meniscus, Hansen found out after examination that she had ripped her ACL, side-lining her for the season.
'The first four months were totally painful,' Hansen said. 'The hardest thing is when you know you can do something, but your leg won't allow you to do it. It was probably the hardest time of my life.'
But even though the injury took her off the court, Hansen continued to be involved with the team. Sitting out a year wasn't something she planned on doing, but Hansen said it did improve her game.
'Sitting out allowed me to see plays from different angles. I could see how timing and position affected the team. As a (kind of) coach, I was able to still contribute and be a part of it,' Hansen said.
When she wasn't with the team, she spent her rehabilitation time working on mobility and range of motion exercises.
'I did leg extensions, wall slides, strength training--lots of repetition,' Hansen said.
But despite her continuing recovery, Hansen said rehabilitation was probably the hardest time of her life.
'Ever since I was five years old, I've played basketball year round. I knew I was a part of the team, but couldn't help like I wanted to.'
Now that doctors have given her the go-ahead to play, Hansen has been working hard through conditioning, according to Coach Shippen.
'She's still a little bit rusty, but she's really worked hard to get herself up to par,' said Shippen. 'It's more of a mental thing now. When you have an injury you wonder whether you'll be able to perform.'
Hansen hopes her injury won't be a problem. Despite some tendonitis flare-ups earlier this fall, Hansen said her knees feel fine. But when asked about the coming season, Hansen focused on the team.
'What I love is that we're all unified. When we hit the weights at 6 every morning, the team's there. The coaches are there, too, showing us their commitment. It's great,' Hansen said.
Even though Midnight Madness is only a few weeks away, Hansen isn't thinking too much about it.
'I'm not (nervous) at all. I'm looking forward to the fan support cheering us on.'