Ali Patberg’s scream blocked out the sound of the official’s whistle and silenced a crowd encouraging an IU women’s basketball fastbreak.
The junior guard was making her way down the court Wednesday against Minnesota, her team trailed by 11.
As she made her way through the paint, Patberg was fouled by Minnesota senior center Annalese Lamke and fell on her right right shoulder.
Sitting near the Big Ten logo on the north side of Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, Patberg was surrounded by Head IU Coach Teri Moren and IU Head Athletic Trainer Robert Black.
"Deep breath, Ali," Moren said. "Deep breath."
Patberg dislocated her shoulder on the play and was taken back to the locker room after some time on the court.
Black was able to pop it back into place, but X-rays will determine the severity of the injury, Moren said.
“The thing that Ali would want us to do and did want us to do was to play on,” Moren said. “The only thing Ali asked Robert was ‘Can I still play?’ That’s just the kind of competitor she is.”
The silence that filled Assembly Hall was about more than just the injury that took place in the eventual 65-61 IU loss. Patberg, who transferred to IU last season and sat out due to NCAA transfer rules, came after playing at the University of Notre Dame.
While with the Fighting Irish, Patberg fought through a torn ACL and an illness before eventually joining the Hoosiers for a fresh start.
She has been the team's scoring and vocal leader on the court all season while running IU’s offense. But without her, IU needed to rally.
“We said a prayer, and then we had to get back to the game,” sophomore guard Bendu Yeaney said. “We don’t know what’s going on, but our prayers are with her. Obviously, we didn’t get the win and that’s what we wanted to do — get the win for her.”
Yeaney along with guards Jaelynn Penn and Grace Berger rotated time at the point guard role for the final 16 minutes of play.
Penn finished the game with a team-high 18 points, all of which came after Patberg’s injury. Yeaney had 12 and Berger had four.
“Really proud in a difficult situation how they handled themselves,” Moren said. “Right now, we just keep our fingers crossed and pray that whatever we find out, that it’s short term.”
