UCONN's Brianna Banks Dealing With Ankle Problem

UCONN women's basketball junior guard Brianna Banks did not play on Sunday against South Florida because of a left ankle injury she sustained in practice last week.
Banks rolled her right ankle during a shooting drill and attempted to play on it last Wednesday against Memphis. She had to leave after three minutes. Banks did not practice last Friday or Saturday. 
"Hopefully she will be back sooner rather than later," coach Geno Auriemma said. "She has tried [to play]. She's a pretty tough kid. But the swelling just won't go down... But it's been that kind of year [with injuries]. We haven't had an opportunity to be with the entire team."
Banks, who missed the second half of her sophomore season with an ACL injury, said, "The swelling never went down, so now it is about 10 days [since she originally hurt it] and it still hasn't gone down. It still hurts a little. I decided to play [Wednesday], but Rosie [athletic trainer Rosemary Ragle] said 'just sit it out.'
"They are still concerned about this one area of my ankle that continues to swell. If the swelling doesn't go down by this weekend, we are going to take some other precautions."
Sunday Auriemma said that Banks would practice on Monday. "I think she is going to practice tomorrow. She needs a lot of minutes, she is like Kiah Stokes she needs a lot of minutes so if we can get her back and get her some minutes, I think that would be huge for her confidence. She was playing really well before those other guys were coming back."
In Tuesday's game against Temple University, Stefanie Dolson rolled her ankle with 8:00 remaining. It was taped by Ragle on the bench and she tested it in the hallway near the Huskies' locker room. She did not return to the game. 
"It's good," said Dolson. "It's just a little roll, a sprain thing. It's nothing crazy. I stepped on Kiah (Stoke's) foot. She turned and I went, and I just stepped and turned. But I have my ankle braces on so it's fine. I could've gone back in."
We wish both players a speedy recovery so they can continue their march to another championship!
References: New Haven Register, CT News, and The Hartford Courant.
If you are a basketball player with a foot or ankle problem, call our Rocky Hill or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Jeffrey S. Kahn, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Sports Medicine Podiatrist in CT
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