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Good news for Oregon’s Ruthy Hebard after injuring right knee

By Carly Grenfell

PALO ALTO, CA - FEBRUARY 10: Oregon Forward Ruthy Hebard (24) drives the lane despite the defense of Stanford Forward Alanna Smith (11) and Stanford Forward Maya Dodson (15) during the women's basketball game between the Oregon Ducks and the Stanford Cardinal at Maples Pavilion on February 10, 2019 in Palo Alto, CA. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PALO ALTO, CA - FEBRUARY 10: Oregon Forward Ruthy Hebard (24) drives the lane despite the defense of Stanford Forward Alanna Smith (11) and Stanford Forward Maya Dodson (15) during the women's basketball game between the Oregon Ducks and the Stanford Cardinal at Maples Pavilion on February 10, 2019 in Palo Alto, CA. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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A sigh of relief in Eugene.

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No. 12 Oregon State had a whole lot to celebrate following its upset over in-state rival and No. 2 Oregon on Monday.

As for the Ducks, it was likely a long trip back home. On top of a loss that halted a 17-game win streak, Ruthy Hebard also went down with a knee injury in the second quarter and did not return.

It was far from a soft landing and her status was questionable as of last night. But luckily for Oregon, the results came back today and the MRI showed no structural damage in her right knee. Without a win in Corvallis since 2010, this was probably the sigh of relief head coach Kelly Graves and the Ducks needed.

Although it doesn’t sound like her return will be in time for this weekend’s contests against UCLA and USC, this was the best possible news Oregon could hear back.

Hebard is averaging 16.4 points per game this year, almost nine rebounds per game and is shooting nearly 70 percent from the field. There’s no denying the Ducks need her on the floor as much as possible. The timing of injuries is never ideal. But hopefully resting up this weekend will be enough to get her back on track for the Pac-12 tournament and beyond.

In a season where we’ve seen a lot of movement in the Top 25 national rankings, and the excitement seems to only get better with time, the setbacks are also, unfortunately, part of the story. Injuries of any player who has a significant role on a team always leave you a little bit gutted.

The 6-4 junior has strung together a heck of a season in 2018-19. She’s on nearly every watchlist that exists and will easily be an All Pac-12 conference selection and All-American. Oregon will take on UCLA and USC next, looking for a couple bounce-back victories. If they can do that without Hebard, they will be in good shape heading into the postseason.

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