by Casey Williams

Despite extensive injuries sustained to her left knee in the Northeast-10 tournament, Ravens’ junior center Tori Ahrens is eyeing a return to the court some time in this month’s NCAA Division II tournament.

Ahrens has been receiving treatment on her injured knee for a little over a week. The official diagnosis was a torn ACL, with a partial tear of the meniscus and a strained MCL.

With 15 minutes left to play in the first half of Franklin Pierce’s 79-68 post-season win over New Haven on March 3, Ahrens forced a loose ball from the hands of Chargers guard Helin Marte and gave chase toward the scorer’s table. Running out of room, the 6-foot-1 center tried for a quick stop once securing the ball. It was then that she slipped and went down awkwardly, suffering what was thought to be a season-ending injury.

“I heard a pop,” said sophomore broadcaster A.J. Berube, who was calling the game from the scorer’s table right where Ahrens collapsed.

The following day, Ahrens met with team physician and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Brad White, whose credentials include recent days spent in Haiti tending to earthquake victims. White suggested the substantial structural damage that Ahrens and the team were fearing. A March 5 MRI at Monadnock Community Hospital confirmed the news.

“I got fitted for a brace,” says Ahrens. “I did not want my season to be over.”

Ahrens will need surgery, but not until after the season. Doctors felt the knee was too swollen and not yet strong enough for surgery. A few weeks of physical therapy would be needed to prepare the knee, and Ahrens plans to use the most of that therapy.

“I was not ready to hang up my jersey,” said Ahrens. “I knew that I was going to do everything in my power to try to get back on the basketball court for the tournament.”

She is confident that she can get back to playing with her team, with the understanding that the status of her injury can’t get much worse.

“I know that as soon as the season is over, I will be getting surgery within the week.”

The plan for Ahrens’ knee is to build the hamstring and quadriceps muscles up to help reduce stress and pain around knee. This requires various strengthening exercises, such as heel slides, quad tightening, Theraband exercises and stretching, all under the special supervision of head trainer Cindy Arman. Ahrens receives three treatments per day, along with stretching, massaging and personal workouts during her team’s practice time. Most recently, she had been running up and down the floor working on jumpstops.

“I have been playing it day by day and just trying to manage the pain, said Ahrens. “I have made progress over the past couple of days. I went from not being able to walk to now running.”

Ahrens, however, knows shes not yet back to playing form. “I still am protecting my knee subconsciously. Unfortunately I am not 100 percent, just because there is not enough time.”

Time is something that Ahrens has, as long as her team can keep winning. Their ultimate target of reaching the National Championship game is still two weeks away. Until then, she will continue to work daily with Arman.

“Cindy has dedicated a large amount of her time in working with me,” said Ahrens. “She has brought me back and forth to the hospital and on the phone with the Doctor’s office all week. Without her, there would be zero chance of me being back on the court.”

In Ahrens, the Ravens are missing their third-leading scorer, and second-leading rebounder and shot blocker. This season, Ahrens logged 8.1 points per game, while averaging 6.2 rebounds per contest and accounting for 43 of 122 team blocks. Ahrens was also named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District I Third-Team in February.

“Our team goal is to go return to where we were last year, yet walk away with title,” said Ahrens. “I am just trying to rehab for the hope that I might be able to help the team. But we are playing well right now and people have stepped up tremendously.”

Entering the starting lineup is six-foot junior Jewel White, who, filling in for Ahrens in the NE-10 Championship against Stonehill, recorded 15 points and a season-high 23 rebounds. Since Ahrens’ injury, White is averaging 33 minutes per game, 13.6 points and 13.6 rebounds, more than doubling her season averages in each category.

Ahrens said, “I just want the team to win and it does not matter to me if I am on the court or on the bench. Our team has come together and we are all determined to do the best we possibly can.”

Follow Ahrens’ progress as the No. 2-nationally ranked Ravens open up the NCAA East Regional tournament Friday, March 12, at 6:00 p.m. Serving as hosts for the Regional bracket at Fitchburg State College, the Ravens will face Nyack College. Tickets are $7 for adults, and $5 for children, seniors and college students with an ID. Game audio will also be available at the Athletics website.