Senior ready to bounce back from knee injury

After sitting out two seasons because of medical redshirts, senior Jamie Gathing was awarded a sixth year of eligibility for the 2004-05 season by the NCAA. The Kankakee, Ill., native will rejoin a Hoosier lineup this year that features 11 returning letter winners from last season.\nGathing, who sustained a knee injury during an offseason workout last year has high hopes for the upcoming season, and said she believes she has fully recovered. \n"I feel really good after working out all summer," Gathing said. "I'm just going to go out this year and give it my all and hope for the best."\nAs part of a busy offseason workout regiment, Gathing also took part in the Big Ten All-Star Foreign Tour Team alongside injured senior Jenny DeMuth. The duo led the All-Stars to a 4-0 record and averaged 5.3 and 9.3 points per game, respectively. \nIU coach Kathi Bennett said she is glad to have Gathing back for one more year and believes Gathing can put her injury behind her and have a solid year. In addition, Bennett will look for the experienced Gathing to provide leadership both on and off the court for a squad that was the fourth-youngest in the nation last season.\n"I think that Jamie has had a tremendous spring," Bennett said. "She's been at it since this summer, doing a lot of heavy lifting and running and if she can make it through our preseason this year, she can make it through anything. I'm very confident that she is going to have a very healthy year."\nDespite an injury plagued career as a Hoosier, Gathing's teammates believe she looks healthier than ever and will be a force for them on both ends of the floor.\n"Having Jamie back with us this year is definitely going to help us out and I think she will play a major role on our squad," junior guard Cyndi Valentin said. "She is very vocal and will be a good leader on the court for us."\nAfter losing DeMuth because of a torn ACL in mid-October, Gathing will have to help fill the void left by last year's leading scorer for the Hoosiers. Although Gathing's career numbers may not look as impressive, she brings more to the table than just statistics. \nGathing's experience and leadership ability will help the Hoosiers to overcome the loss of DeMuth. Gathing has kept an upbeat and enthusiastic outlook on the season, and has been maintaining a positive atmosphere in the locker room. \nWith the Hoosier's first game of season just around the corner, Gathing said she's ready for season play to begin and prove herself this season for the Hoosiers.\n"I just can't wait to get out there and get the season rolling," Gathing said. "It's going to be a really exciting year."\n-- Contact staff writer Matt Ostrega at mostrega@indiana.edu.