(Editor’s note: Story by Griz Communications)
MISSOULA – Montana freshman guard Katie Mayhue will miss the remainder of the season because of tendon damage in her foot.
Mayhue was injured last month and was limited to just a handful of minutes in three games after initially sitting out home games against Northern Colorado and Idaho.
She hasn’t played since getting on the floor for eight minutes in the first half at Montana State on Feb. 2.
Mayhue, who will be in a cast the final month of the season, was averaging 8.9 points at the time of the injury and was the team’s top threat from 3-point range, from which she was shooting 36.7 percent.
“Obviously the loss of Katie is extremely sad to see,” said Lady Griz coach Shannon Schweyen. “She was a freshman who was contributing in so many ways for us.
“We’re just hoping she can have a speedy recovery and get healed up and be back out on the court with us as soon as possible.”
Mayhue played her way into the starting lineup by the second game of the season.
She scored a team-high 17 points in Montana’s loss at Arizona in early December and showed her playmaking ability two days later, when the Lady Griz played at Grand Canyon and came away with a 22-point win behind Mayhue’s five assists.
Mayhue matched her season high with 17 points when she played 42 minutes and connected on five 3-pointers in Montana’s double-overtime road win at Sacramento State in early January.
“Katie is an electric player who was shooting the three well for us. She is exciting in the open court with her creativity and the things she can do, and had some of the most beautiful finishes,” said Schweyen.
Montana is now without four guards on its active roster.
Sophia Stiles suffered a knee injury last February. She has returned to mostly full health, but reached that point too deep into the season for Schweyen to consider burning a year of Stiles’ eligibility.
Madi Schoening started Montana’s season-opening game at Gonzaga but hasn’t played since as she deals with her own foot injury. Taylor Goligoski had a season-ending knee injury last month.
“Katie is our fourth guard to go down, so all the kids who are injured are somewhat at the same position,” said Schweyen, who has had to reconfigure her lineup all three years she’s been a head coach.
“We’ll have to do some rearranging and move some kids into new spots. The players who are left are going to have to step up.”
Montana hosts Weber State on Thursday and Idaho State on Saturday.
