The Gopher women’s basketball team improved to 9-1 on the season with a 68-55 road win over North Dakota Wednesday night in Grand Forks, but they lost their best player in the process.
Rachel Banham suffered a knee injury early in the game, the Star Tribune reports. She appeared to injure her right knee while driving towards the basket midway through the first half. She fell to the ground, grabbed her knee and was eventually helped to the locker room. Banham did not put any weight on her leg when she was helped off the court.
Banham, who was named the Big Ten’s preseason player of the year, has received an outpouring of support on from fans via Twitter.
Thoughts w/ Rachel Banham. Currently crying being helped off the No. Dak. court. Grabbed her right knee after a drive to the hoop. #gophers
— Jols99 (@Jols99) December 11, 2014
Praying Rachel banham's knee is okay… Couldn't imagine going down on your senior year. #gopherbball
— Coley Ries Welter (@coleymarieries) December 11, 2014
I hope Rachel banham is alright. That girl is one of the baddest girls to play. Easily the hardest person to guard. No contest. #prayersup
— Morgan Paige (@MoPaige05) December 11, 2014
Banham’s injury, if serious enough to end her season, would keep her from passing Lindsay Whalen for the women’s all-time Gopher scoring record, as reported by KSTP’s Joe Schmit.
https://twitter.com/joe_schmit/status/542854998317473793
The senior from Lakeville had a much better start to her day as she was named to the Naismith Trophy Top 50 watch list. The winner is considered the best women’s basketball player in the nation. She was on the watch list as a junior, too.
Congrats to @rachelbanham15 for being named to the @NaismithTrophy Top 50 watch list! More: http://t.co/lNNwso5r6J pic.twitter.com/c0GAPzOWKU
— Minnesota Women's Basketball (@GopherWBB) December 10, 2014
