Davidson’s women’s basketball team announced Friday that it has canceled the remainder of its season due to “a significant number of injuries.”
The Wildcats started the season a program-best 12-1 — including a 69-62 win at Duke in November — and were receiving votes in the AP poll at the time. But they recently had to forfeit games at Dayton and versus Fordham due to non-COVID health and safety protocols within the program.
The team did host its Senior Night on Wednesday when it lost 45-40 to George Washington, but only seven players suited up — six of them for 25 minutes or more.
“The injuries we have sustained this season have weighed heavily on our entire program. This decision is not one that we are taking lightly, as no one wanted it to end this way,” coach Gayle Fulks said in a statement. “Our team of young women is the strongest, most caring and most competitive team I have ever been a part of. They have been an absolute JOY to coach, every single day. Despite the challenging nature of the way this season has unfolded, our team never wavered and competed to the very end. I am confident there is no team in the country that would have handled the hardship we faced with as much grace, strength and adaptability as our young women did. I am so proud of them.”
The Wildcats finish their season 18-10 (including the two forfeits), and will not participate in the upcoming Atlantic-10 tournament.
“The physical, mental and emotional toll of this unfortunate and injury-riddled season has brought us to this point,” athletic director Chris Clunie said in a statement. “We are incredibly saddened that we cannot finish out the season strong but feel this is the best decision for our scholar-athletes.”
In January, TCU ran into a similar situation, as the program held open tryouts to fill out its injury-depleted roster. With the Horned Frogs down to six available players, the team canceled games against Kansas State and Iowa State.
TCU — which also began its season on a promising note, having opened 13-0 — struggled mightily after the injuries and will enter the final week of its season 19-9.
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(Photo: Aaron Doster / USA Today)
