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CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati head women's basketball coach Jamelle Elliott announced Monday that senior guard Alyesha Lovett (Newark, N.J./Malcolm X Shabazz) is expected to miss the 2014-15 season due to an achilles injury.
Lovett was the top returning scorer and rebounder for the Bearcats this season averaging 10.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game last year. One of only two players to start all 31 games in 2013-14, she recorded 17 double-digit scoring efforts.
Lovett was twice named to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll last season and ranked 12th in the conference in three-point field goal percentage (30.2). She led the Bearcats in points nine times and in rebounds three times.
Lovett suffered an achilles injury during the Bearcats' closed scrimmage on Saturday, Oct. 25. Surgery is scheduled for this week and will be performed by Director of Orthopedic Services Dr. Angelo Colosimo at UC Medical Center. Lovett is in her fourth year with the team and has not used a redshirt year.
"Alyesha's leadership and impact on the floor will truly be missed this season," noted Elliott. "I know Alyesha will approach her rehab the same way she approaches everything she does - with hard work and a positive attitude. She still has a lot of basketball to play here at UC and we look forward to having her back next season. As a team, we will move forward not trying to replace her, but rather look at it as a challenge for each person to improve individually."
UC opens the 2014-15 season on Friday, Nov. 7 against Kentucky Wesleyan in an exhibition game that is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. inside Fifth Third Arena.