Women's Basketball Announces Roster Changes
May 26, 2010 | Women's Basketball
May 26, 2010
Louisville, Ky. - Louisville head coach Jeff Walz has announced that two-sport athlete Gwen Rucker will focus solely on volleyball next season. Freshman forward Ashley Rainey has transferred to Lindsey Wilson College to be closer to home and junior forward Laura Terry will take a medical hardship after undergoing her third knee surgery.
"Gwen has been a joy to coach and has done everything we have ever asked her to do," said Walz. " It has just come to a point in her college career where juggling the stringent demands of being a pre-med major, community service and two sports have become too time consuming. Gwen believes in being the best in every endeavor but unfortunately she could not devote the time needed to the basketball court. She will always be a part of our basketball family and we wish her nothing but success."
Rucker has been a two-sport athlete for the Cardinals the last two seasons, lettering in basketball and volleyball. She has decided to solely focus on volleyball her final two seasons at Louisville. Rucker finished her sophomore season averaging 3.0 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. She finished the year shooting 41.7 percent from the field while seeing action in 25 games.
Rainey, a Bowling Green, Ky. native, is familiar with Lindsey Wilson after watching her older sister Ronyeld play for the Blue Raiders from 1997-2001. Rainey averaged 6.4 points and 6.4 rebounds after playing in 22 games for the Cardinals this season. She missed the final 10 games of the season to concentrate on personal and family issues. Rainey completed the spring semester at the University of Louisville before transferring to Lindsey Wilson College. Rainey's father Ronald Hamilton also played at Lindsey Wilson in the mid `70's.
"I want to thank Coach Walz and the University of Louisville for the great opportunity they gave me," said Rainey. "Coach Walz is a great coach and has done a great job with the team. I really enjoyed my time at Louisville however I feel that at this time it is in my best interest to finish my education at a smaller school where I can be closer to home. I wish Coach Walz and the team the best of luck next year and in the future."
Terry will forego her final season with the Cardinals and take a medical hardship. Terry injured her knee her sophomore year in December and had her first knee surgery; she did return to the court late in the year but saw limited action. She had extensive surgery to replace the cartilage in her knee after the Cardinals' Final Four appearance. She returned to the court her junior year but saw action in just 11 games before ending the season with her third knee surgery. Terry played in 64 games with the Cardinals and started in eight. She finishes her career averaging 2.5 points while shooting 51.9 percent from the field.
"Laura is a terrific young lady who will still be very active in our program," said Walz. "We will miss her contributions on the basketball court but remain optimistic about her ability to lead this young team."
