Aug. 31, 2010

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - - Sophomore guard Chatia Kelsey, who played in 33 of 34 games last season as a true freshman for the women's basketball team, underwent season-ending knee surgery Tuesday morning. Kelsey will use a medical redshirt for the 2010-2011 season and will have three years of eligibility remaining following this year. She averaged 2.9 points and 2.2 rebounds for the Tigers last year, while coming off the bench to rank eighth on the team in steals, helping a Tiger defense that ranked fourth in Conference USA-only games in field goal percentage defense (39.2) and second in steals per game (11.2/game). Kelsey played a big role in Memphis' overtime win over Rice at FedExForum, tracking down a loose ball as Rice was trying to drive the length of the floor for a possible game-winning attempt. Kelsey's quick hands found the loose ball and she dribbled back to the Memphis end as the clock expired for the televised win.

"Chatia has become an important part of our program," Head Coach Melissa McFerrin said. "But we know that she will work hard to fully recover to come back and help her team."

The Tiger guard corps will be down to six players with the loss of Kelsey. The guards had gained two players who sat out last season for Memphis, sophomore guard Mary Jackson and redshirt freshman Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir. The guards will also add junior college transfer Danay Collier to go with senior Alex Winchell and juniors Brittany Carter and Ramses Lonlack.

The team returned to campus over the weekend and will begin individual workouts shortly in anticipation of Memphis Madness festivities, Oct. 15th.