Ajavon Expected to Miss Start of Season
Sep 16 | Women's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers' Matee Ajavon (Newark, N.J.) is expected to miss the start of the 2006-2007 women's basketball season, head coach C. Vivian Stringer has announced.
Ajavon, a 5-8 junior point guard, underwent surgery to repair a left tibial stress fracture. She is expected to return to the court for the Scarlet Knights this season.
"Obviously, we are disappointed for Matee that she has had to lose another off-season due to this injury," said Stringer. "She missed out on the opportunity to try out for USA Basketball and also develop her game the last two summers, which I know has been difficult for her. But, we believe that the proper measures have been taken to provide a long-term solution. We have every confidence that Matee will soon be back at 100 percent. We will be bring her along slowly and monitor her closely."
Ajavon averaged 12.6 points and team bests of 4.5 assists and 2.6 steals per game last season, earning a spot on the All-BIG EAST First Team after starting 23 of RU's 32 games. A preseason candidate for the 2006 Naismith National Player of the Year Award, she was the 2005 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, averaging 12.4 points and a team-high 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals per contest. Ajavon also was named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team, the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team and the NCAA Tournament All-Philadelphia Region Team as a rookie.
No. 9/9 Rutgers posted a 27-5 overall record during the 2005-2006 season, advancing to the regional semifinals of the 2006 NCAA Tournament. The Scarlet Knights notched a perfect 16-0 mark in BIG EAST Conference regular-season play to win their second straight outright BIG EAST regular-season crown.
