OU's Whitney Hand Out for Rest of Season

Originally Published: Nov 30, 2009 6:8 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

NORMAN, Oklahoma – OU sophomore guard Whitney Hand will miss the remainder of the Sooners’ season with a torn ACL.

Hand was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year last season after making 37 percent of her 3-point attempts and averaging 9.2 points per game. She made five starts for the Sooners (4-2) this season, and is second on the team with a 13.4-point average per game.

“All of us are aching individually and collectively for Whitney right now because she loves to play basketball,” OU head coach Sherri Coale said. “Although we lose her tangible presence on the floor we won't lose the intangible quality of her leadership. We would ask the Sooner Nation to keep Whitney in their thoughts and prayers and to stand united alongside our team as we move forward in our season.”

Hand sustained the injury near the end of the first half of OU’s victory over San Diego State Friday in the final round of the Virgin Islands Paradise Jam. An MRI Monday revealed a complete tear of her ACL, and OU will now pursue a medical hardship that will grant Hand an extra year of eligibility.