Arizona Wildcats forward Lauren Ware is expected to miss 1-2 weeks with a right knee injury sustained in the opening minute of the team's 59-47 win against North Dakota State at McKale Center Thursday night.
The Wildcats and Ware seem to have avoided the worst case scenario, though. Β
βWe're not going to rush her back, but it's not an injury we anticipated or thought that it looked like,β UA coach Adia Barnes said after the game. "That was good news."
Ware went down awkwardly after going up for an offensive rebound and let out an audible yell in pain while clutching her right knee. She had to be helped off the court by two UA trainers and could not put any weight on her right leg as she went to the locker room.Β
Adia Barnes says Lauren Wareβs knee injury is not as serious as they initially thought and she will be out 1-2 weeks. pic.twitter.com/AiaelHt3LM
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) December 10, 2021
The sophomore returned to the bench later in the game, with her right leg wrapped and in a knee brace extended straight over empty chairs.Β
"(The knee) dislocated but it got shifted right back," Barnes said. "That's why it was not a major injury."
University of Arizona president Robert Robbins talks with forward Lauren Ware (32) during a break in the second half action against North Dakota State in their NCAA women's basketball game between the Arizona Wildcats and North Dakota State Bison at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 9, 2021. Ware went down in the opening seconds with an injury and returned later in the game.
Ware will undergo an MRI either Friday or Saturday to determine the severity of the injury and the next course of action for her recovery.
Arizona will likely be without Ware for its next game on Sunday at 1 p.m. against New Mexico.
Photos: Arizona Wildcats stay unbeaten with 59-47 win over North Dakota State, women's basketball
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Arizona guard Shaina Pellington (1) gets ahold of North Dakota State guard Heaven Hamling (11) while swiping the ball in their NCAA women's basketball game between the Arizona Wildcats and North Dakota State Bison at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 9, 2021.
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Arizona forward Lauren Ware (32) goes to the floor in pain in the first few seconds of the Wildcats game against North Dakota State in their NCAA women's basketball game between the Arizona Wildcats and North Dakota State Bison at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 9, 2021. Ware was helped off and out of the court.
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Arizona guard Helena Pueyo (13) gets tangled up with North Dakota State forward Emily Behnke (20) in the fight for a rebound in their NCAA women's basketball game between the Arizona Wildcats and North Dakota State Bison at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 9, 2021.
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Arizona guard Bendu Yeaney (23) slices by North Dakota State guard Reneya Hopkins (0) on her way to bucket in their NCAA women's basketball game between the Arizona Wildcats and North Dakota State Bison at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 9, 2021.
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Arizona forward Sam Thomas (14) draws the offensive charge from North Dakota State forward Katie Hildebrandt (33) in their NCAA women's basketball game between the Arizona Wildcats and North Dakota State Bison at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 9, 2021.
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Arizona guard Bendu Yeaney (23), left, and forward Koi Love (5) team up to tie up North Dakota State guard Heaven Hamling (11) and win the jump ball in their NCAA women's basketball game between the Arizona Wildcats and North Dakota State Bison at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 9, 2021.
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Arizona forward Cate Reese (25) looks for room to get off a shot under North Dakota State forward Emily Dietz (34) in their NCAA women's basketball game between the Arizona Wildcats and North Dakota State Bison at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 9, 2021.
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Arizona guard Shaina Pellington (1) fights through the hand of North Dakota State guard Ryan Cobbins (5) to score a lay in in their NCAA women's basketball game between the Arizona Wildcats and North Dakota State Bison at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 9, 2021.
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Arizona forward Ariyah Copeland (22) fights her way around North Dakota State forward Emily Dietz (34) into the paint in their NCAA women's basketball game between the Arizona Wildcats and North Dakota State Bison at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 9, 2021.
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Arizona forward Sam Thomas grabs a rebound over North Dakota State forward Emily Dietz during their game last week.
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Arizona guard Shaina Pellington (1) has to pull down a rebound one handed when getting grabbed in the pain against North Dakota State in their NCAA women's basketball game between the Arizona Wildcats and North Dakota State Bison at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 9, 2021.
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Arizona forward Sam Thomas (14) directs traffic to set up the Wildcat offense against North Dakota State in their NCAA women's basketball game between the Arizona Wildcats and North Dakota State Bison at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 9, 2021.
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Arizona head coach Adia Barnes makes some adjustments to her offense against North Dakota State in their NCAA women's basketball game between the Arizona Wildcats and North Dakota State Bison at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 9, 2021.
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Arizona forward Cate Reese (25) twists her way to score around North Dakota State forward Emily Dietz (34) in their NCAA women's basketball game between the Arizona Wildcats and North Dakota State Bison at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 9, 2021.
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Arizona forward Aaronette Vonleh (21) has to work for her basket as North Dakota State guard Ryan Cobbins (5) reaches in from behind in their NCAA women's basketball game between the Arizona Wildcats and North Dakota State Bison at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 9, 2021.
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University of Arizona president Robert Robbins talks with forward Lauren Ware (32) during a break in the second half action against North Dakota State in their NCAA women's basketball game between the Arizona Wildcats and North Dakota State Bison at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 9, 2021. Ware went down in the opening seconds with an injury and returned later in the game.
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Arizona forward Cate Reese (25) outruns everybody to a fast break basket against North Dakota State in their NCAA women's basketball game between the Arizona Wildcats and North Dakota State Bison at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 9, 2021.
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Arizona forward Gisela Sanchez (30) and the Wildcats lacing them up to face off against North Dakota State just before tipoff of the Arizona Wildcats and North Dakota State Bison game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 9, 2021.
