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Tennessee’s Glory Johnson, right, battles for the ball with Stanford’s Nnemkadi Ogwumike on Sunday in a play that resulted to Johnson’s injury.
When she awoke Monday morning, Tennessee's Glory Johnson said that she could barely walk.
Judging by Friday night, the freshman has made big strides in recovering from a right thigh contusion suffered during Sunday night's game against Stanford. Johnson was running and participating in an evening practice.
"I'm happy it's not as bad as I thought it was,'' said Johnson, who described the injury as "extremely painful."
The 6-foot-3 forward said she's preparing to play when No. 8 Tennessee (9-2) returns to action at Gonzaga Tuesday night.
"I plan on it,'' she said. "Seeing how practice goes the next couple of days."
Johnson received regular treatment during the Christmas break and still has some recovering to do.
"I can't sleep on that side,'' she said. "I have to sit a certain way.
"It will be fine eventually. It feels better already."
Johnson and the Lady Vols convened for a workout in advance of this morning's departure for Spokane, Wash. Guard Sydney Smallbone missed the practice because of a flight delay. Guard Angie Bjorklund, who lives in Spokane, and forward Vicki Baugh, who's from Sacramento, Calif., will rejoin the team out West.
The only other player not practicing was guard Cait McMahan, who's been resting her sore right knee since Dec. 15. She underwent an MRI exam earlier in the week, which showed no new structural damage.
The most significant injury impacting Tuesday's game involves Bjorklund's sister, Jamie Schaefer. The Gonzaga senior, who got married this summer, suffered a partially torn posterior cruciate ligament in her right knee during a game against Wyoming Monday and is out for at least six weeks.
The injury precludes a final chance for the sisters to play against each other, barring an NCAA tournament meeting.
The two teams played in Knoxville last December.
"The timing of it was not good,'' UT coach Pat Summitt said. "We set up this game to make sure they would get to play against each other (again)."
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Comments » 7
ncvol writes:
Well, I saw the game when Glory was injured and I am surprised that she may play. Best of luck, ladies.
Go L.Vols!
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
Come on, are we conditioned to think the worse all of the time?
ladivolfan writes:
Glory will be ready because she knows she must. She's tough and will follow through. We've done well without Cait. Brianna handles the point better anyway. Pat just hasn't figured it out yet.
98reax writes:
Butchy's back. Comments are whack.
Throw 'em in a sack. They don't mean jack.
They have no clue. Nothin's new.
Same tired drone. Al Brown's gone.
So what's that got to do with anything new?
Coach Brown don't even want to know you.
You always disrespect, so quick to interject
Crying you don't care, yet always up in here
Stinking up this site where you have no right
To comment at all about Lady Vol ball.
We're true fans. We're here to stay.
Take your 4" worth and go away.
mississippi writes:
ucant
jesseejames57 writes:
Pat is King of the hill. Alway's has and alway's will be. When your good your good which no one can deny.
mississippi writes:
hey butch you just got told and i agree with every word
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