Notre Dame star Brianna Turner to miss season to rehab knee

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) - Star Notre Dame center Brianna Turner, who suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee during the NCAA Tournament in late March, will miss the upcoming season to continue rehabilitation.

The 6-foot-3 Turner, who averaged 15.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game, announced on her Twitter account Tuesday that she would not rush back from the injury, which occurred during Notre Dame 88-82 overtime victory over Purdue on March 29.

"Looking forward to getting my body completely healthy again," she wrote.

Surgery was performed on April 12. Team officials and medical personnel had been hopeful that Turner, an Associated Press second-team All-American last year, might return in January for what would be her senior season.

"We discussed the situation with Bri, and we discussed it with her parents," coach Muffet McGraw said. "And we all agree it's in her best interests for her to sit out the year. So she'll continue rehabbing, but she won't be playing."

Notre Dame has filed paperwork with the NCAA for a hardship waiver that would allow 6-foot-4 Nebraska transfer Jessica Shepard to immediately become eligible. As Shepard's status currently stands, she must sit out the upcoming season to satisfy transfer rules and would have two years of eligibility remaining.

Turner, a highly recruited player coming out of Manvel (Texas) High School, has averaged 14.6 points and 7.6 rebounds in three seasons for Notre Dame. Her 263 career blocks during that time are second only behind former Notre Dame All-America center Ruth Riley's 370. She missed playing time early her first two seasons because of a shoulder injury that eventually required surgery following her sophomore year. She did return in both of those seasons to play with a brace.