By
Kamy Shaygan
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Junior guard won't be cleared until January
The Arizona women's basketball team will have to do without junior guard Julie Brase for the rest of the season.
Brase has decided to redshirt the 2000-2001 season due to an injury to her right wrist.
The junior's doctors told the Tucson native that she would not be able to play contact basketball until January, which therefore lead to the decision to use her redshirt year.
"We (UA head coach Joan Bonvicini and Brase) sat down together, and we just talked about what I should do this year," Brase said. "We thought the best thing for me would be to redshirt the season."
If Brase was to play this year, she would have to return near the end of the season and miss the majority of the Pacific 10 Conference season.
"I'm kind of glad I'm redshirting because I want to play when I'm 100 percent," Brase said. "This whole year I have been in a cast, then a brace. It's kind of nice to redshirt this year just to make sure I am 100 percent for next year."
Brase's teammates also agreed with her decision.
"I see why people redshirt," senior guard Reshea Bristol said. "I redshirted my first year."
Although Bristol is understanding of Brase's absence, the Omaha, Neb., native wishes she could play with Brase in her last season of eligibility.
"We will definitely miss Julie," Bristol said. "Her experience on the court and her three point threat and her defense(are vital). Hurrying up and getting better for us is not going to help her down the stretch.
"It's a hard loss, but we are going to have to deal with it."
Brase is now working on getting back into game shape so when she is cleared by her doctors, she will be able to participate in practice come January.
"I have a month to get back in shape," Brase said. "I've been working really hard on the weights getting my arm stronger just because I haven't lifted it in like three months.
Also, our trainer has been working me out - stadiums and running defense - just trying to get me back in shape for January."
Because of the injury on her right wrist, Brase has not shot a ball with her right hand since mid-summer.
"My left hand is better than my right hand right now," Brase said. "I haven't even started shooting on my right yet."
Brase averaged 6.1 points along with 2.3 rebounds per game last season for the Wildcats.
She was also awarded the squad's Free Throw Percentage Award for the second year in a row last season.
Kamy Shaygan can be reached at sports@wildcat.arizona.edu.
