KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Jenny Moshak, University of Tennessee Associate Athletics Director for Sports Medicine, announced this afternoon that Lady Vol basketball junior forward Alyssia Brewer had undergone successful Achilles tendon surgery.
Brewer suffered the freakish non-athletically related injury on August 19 when a candle base broke on the floor in her apartment and a shard of glass cut her leg. Brewer received stitches and was held out of individual workouts. The injury was reevaluated after she continued to feel discomfort in the leg.
"Drs. Greg Mathien and Russell Betcher, UT team orthopaedists, performed surgery on Lyssi's left Achilles tendon this afternoon," said Moshak. "The surgery repaired a tear to her Achilles as a result of her non-athletically related mishap."
According to Moshak, Brewer's surgery went well and she will begin rehabilitation in two weeks. "I anticipate that Lyssi should be able to return to the court this season."
Brewer, a 6-3 junior from Sapulpa, Okla., emerged as a key member of the 2009-10 team earning 13 starting assignments while averaging 10.2 ppg and 5.9 rpg -- practically doubling the scoring output of her rookie campaign. The southpaw registered 17 games in double-figures including a career high 23 points against George Washington University. She was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2010 Southeastern Conference Tournament leading her Lady Vol team to the title averaging 14.7 ppg and 5.7 rpg and connecting on 70.4 percent of her field goal attempts in the three game set. Brewer also claimed the 2010 SEC 6th Woman of the Year award.
"The unexpected injury Lyssi suffered is really unfortunate for both Lyssi and our team," said Lady Vol head basketball coach Pat Summitt. "She really worked hard in the off-season and we were hopeful that she could build on the momentum she generated at the end of the 2010 season. This is a tough setback for all of us."
The Lady Vols officially open the 2010-11 campaign on Nov.12 at the University of Louisville in the brand new KFC Yum! Center.
