Boston College Athletics
Player Profile: Brianne Stepherson
February 14, 2001 | Women's Basketball
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Feb. 14, 2001
When Brianne Stepherson tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee in the off-season last year, many people comforted her by telling the then sophomore that the injury happened at the best time of the season. Normally, reconstructive ACL surgery needs five to six months to properly heal and there was six months until the start of preseason workouts.
But Stepherson wasn't so quickly soothed by others' words and encouragement. Quick fears that she was never going to walk properly again, never mind play basketball, ran through her mind. To combat the scary thoughts, Stepherson turned to a higher being for help and guidance.
PERSONAL GROWTH
"Some people might think that hurting my knee might be a negative, but it actually helped me grow spiritually. From the time I had my surgery," Stepherson explained, "I become more involved in my faith.
"When something like (the injury) happens, people usually ask, `Why me?' But I put my faith in God to help me get back. From that day on, instead of letting my knee affect me, I tried to grow from the experience."
Active in sports from the time she was a very young child, the Middletown, Mass. native was never one to be content just sitting around and watching the action. The injury left her yearning to get back on the court.
"I had a horrible time at first. I love playing and I didn't want to be away from it," Stepherson said.
But her newly strengthened faith helped her through the hours of painful rehab, countless miles logged on the stationary bike and the endless doubts people had about her ability to come back.
"I went through a lot of personal reflection. There was a lot of time rehabbing that I spent thinking about it all. Instead of being a negative, the injury was probably one of the most positive experiences I've had in my life."
Stepherson stayed upbeat and optimistic the whole time and also had a great deal of support from her family.
"My parents grew when I got hurt, too. The whole thing became a family experience. They are my biggest supporters and my role models. We definitely became a closer family because of it."
THE RETURN
After five and a half months of arduous rehab, Stepherson finally stepped back on the court in September for preseason workouts. Pleased with her progress, she took the court in the team's first exhibition game against the National Women's Basketball League on Nov. 5 and played 27 minutes, scoring 10 points and grabbing six rebounds. She also had three assists in the game.
All seemed well and with the beginning of the season came two starts, two wins and a tournament title in the Chevrolet Classic. The Eagles' next opponent was third-ranked Duke at home on Nov. 22.
In the first half, while trying to drive down the lane, Stepherson went down. She screamed out in agony and clutched her repaired right knee in obvious pain. The entire crowd held its breath as Stepherson was helped off the court. She returned later in the game, noticeably limping, and then played sparingly as the pain in the knee grew.
After visiting the doctor later that night, she was told that she had a strain of the pes ancerine in the knee and the muscles around her knee were also weak. The good news: nothing happened to the ACL and it was completely fine. The bad news: she would have to sit out about a month to strengthen the knee and let the strain heal.
Patiently rehabbing, again, and joining in practices on an increasingly regular basis, Stepherson came back to the lineup on the road against Kent State on Dec. 21. She didn't play in the game, but she was ready to get back in the full swing of things when the team returned from Christmas break.
INJURED AGAIN
At the first practice back after the break on Dec. 26, Stepherson was ready to get back to work. But then the injury bug struck again. This time, she strained the patella tendon in her right knee. Again, there was no injury or damage to the ACL, but the new injury meant more time off. This time, the rehab took a little longer than expected and on Jan. 30, the team announced that Stepherson would not return this season. Instead, she would take the time to rest up the knee, strengthen the muscles and refocus on next season.
But not all has been lost. Instead, there has been a new cheerleader and pseudo assistant coach on the bench. You see, Stepherson, again, has turned the injury into a positive. This time, along with personal growth, she has been able to help her team and add her own insight from the bench.
A NEW VISION
"I have become a student of the game now," Stepherson explained. "I hate sitting out, but I see so much more on the sidelines now.
"At first, when I wasn't playing, I didn't know how to take it or what my role was. But I still have the adrenaline on the bench. I can see plays and transitions so much more clearly now. When I came back to practice before I got hurt again, I noticed the difference right away on the court. I understood the whole flow a lot better and saw that my game reflected the new way I saw things. I've also noticed that my communication with my teammates on the court is much better since I've seen how important it is.
"Now, even though I'm not playing, I still stand on the sidelines in practice and yell, `Who's got left? Who's got right?' I can see it all come together on the court now: the plays, the execution, the communication. This whole experience (of being injured) will really help me next year when I come back."
But besides helping her own game, her time on the sidelines has also proven beneficial to the younger backcourt players. With two freshmen and a sophomore playing the majority of time at the two guard positions, Stepherson's experience and guidance has helped their development.
"The younger players are very receptive to what I have to say. At first I thought it might be a little awkward, but they really listen to what I have to say about plays or other teams' players. I love being almost like another coach."
ON HER WAY BACK
Stepherson will return to the court next season, but it won't be after a long, hard road. "Breezy", as her friends and teammates call her, has had a lot of support along the way.
"My parent have helped me through this more than anyone. They have always been there for me and will continue to help me through this. Nicole (Conway) has also been a great help. She is constantly reminding me to stay upbeat and to keep my confidence. She reminds me of the good things that have happened and that will happen again next season."
Indeed, good things have happened in the past with Stepherson on the court, and they have continued this season with her guidance from the bench. Imagine what good things will happen next season when it all comes together on the court.
