By
Kamy Shaygan
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Brase out longer than expected with wrist injury
Although UA sophomore guard Krista Warren injured a finger on her left hand last week, she managed to play in the Wildcat victory against the "Love and Basketball" club team last weekend at McKale Center.
Warren is not exactly sure what is wrong with her finger.
"I can't understand it" she said "I couldn't move it or bend it - so I have been out of practice a little bit."
Despite the injury to her finger, Warren finished the game with 10 points, five rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal.
Warren, who was named to the Pacific 10 Conference All-Freshman team last season, averaged 3.3 points along with 2.5 rebounds per game in 1999-2000.
Although Warren can't target what is wrong with her finger, she doesn't expect it to sideline her.
"I think it will be back to normal within a couple of weeks," Warren said.
Wildcat junior guard Julie Brase - who has been sidelined since having surgery on her right wrist - will be out of action longer than expected.
Brase, who was originally expected to return mid-November, is now out indefinitely until she receives clearance from UA team doctors.
"She is not allowed to rehab yet officially," UA head coach Joan Bonvicini said. "A decision will be made when we see her progress. I think I will know more in a few weeks."
Brase averaged 6.1 points along with 2.4 rebounds per game last season with the Wildcats.
Because of Brase's absence, UA's freshmen guards Amiee Grzyb, Candice Allen and Jen Chesney will be given the opportunity to show their talent.
"I feel that we are very young this year," junior guard Tysell Bozeman said. "We have a lot of young freshmen, but we should be pretty good."
UA freshman forward Veranda James, who was expected to make an immediate impact this season for the Wildcats, lived up to her expectations last weekend against "Love and Basketball" at McKale Center.
James, who only played 18 minutes because of early foul trouble, finished with a game-high 19 points - shooting 9-for-11 from the field.
James, recruited by schools such as UCLA, Duke, Purdue, Old Dominion and Georgia, averaged 32.4 points, 17.2 rebounds and 5.2 blocks per game in her senior season at Ganesha High School in Pomona, Calif.
In her final high school playoff game, James registered 52 points, earning her the honor of being the first athlete in Ganesha history to be put on GHS's "Wall of Fame".
"She is an excellent athlete," Bonvicini said. "I think she knows this year is her opportunity to really come out and play."
