Colorado University Athletics
Whitney Law Denied Request For Medical Redshirt
BOULDER ? University of Colorado senior guard Whitney Law has had her application for a sixth year of eligibility denied by the NCAA, CU head women’s basketball coach Kathy McConnell-Miller announced on Wednesday.
Law had applied for a medical redshirt in March in an attempt to regain the year she lost in 2003-04 when she tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee just four games into her sophomore season. Although the injury occurred three seasons ago, Law couldn’t apply for the medical hardship until the completion of her normal eligibility.
A native of Littleton, Colo., Law played at the University of Georgia as a true freshman in 2001-02, before transferring back to Colorado for the 2002-03 academic year. She sat out the 2002-03 basketball season due to NCAA transfer rules, but practiced with the Buffaloes for the entire campaign.
The NCAA allows student-athletes five years, or 10 semesters, to complete their four years of eligibility. According to the NCAA, Law’s application did not meet the criteria for the five-year/10-semester waiver.
“Situations like this are hard when I know how dedicated her life has been to basketball,” McConnell-Miller said. “I would love her to have had the opportunity to play another year and to coach her for another season. It’s unfortunate, but all things considered, she will handle this and continue her career in the sport of basketball whether it be playing or coaching. She will always be a Buff to us.”
Law played in a total of 58 games in a Colorado uniform averaging 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists per contest. Her assists average ranks 17th on CU’s career list and she is 19th on the Buffs’ all-time 3-point field goals chart with 38.
Law started 23 of 27 games as a senior in 2005-06 (she missed three games with an ankle injury) averaging a career-best 10.6 points per game. She led the Buffaloes and ranked 11th in the Big 12 Conference in assists (3.8 apg) and was 13th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.4) and free-throw percentage (.754). Law set school records for assists in one game (15) and one half (9) in the 2005-06 season opener against Cal State-Fullerton on Nov. 18.