After being forced to watch from the sideline, she is back.
Donning Indiana women’s basketball’s home white uniforms with red numbers and trim, graduate student guard Sydney Parrish returned to the court Sunday with a white DonJoy brace on her left knee.
Parrish was back in the starting lineup against Oakland University for the first time since Nov. 24, when she injured her left knee against Baylor University during the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas.
When public address announcer Jeremy Gray announced Parrish as one of five starters, the Hoosier faithful inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall cheered even louder than they already do for the fan favorite.
Parrish missed the Hoosiers’ last five games as they went 4-1. She warmed up ahead of Indiana’s victory over Bellarmine University on Dec. 15 but did not take to the court. After the game, Indiana head coach Teri Moren said there was talk of Parrish playing, but the medical staff felt giving her another week would allow her to feel more comfortable.
The Fishers, Indiana, native missed seven games last season with a broken foot. In the Hoosiers’ exhibition game against Maryville University on Oct. 30, Parrish tweaked her right ankle in the third quarter and missed the remainder of the game.
Over the Hoosiers’ first five games of the season, Parrish averaged 32.8 minutes and 10.2 points per game. Before she exited against Baylor, Parrish played 12 minutes and scored 5 points.
In Parrish’s absence, sophomore guard Julianna LaMendola was inserted into the starting lineup. But Sunday, Parrish returned to the starting lineup.
With Parrish playing against Oakland — the Hoosiers’ final regular season nonconference contest — it allows her to get back into the rhythm of playing in a live game just a week before Indiana dives into its Big Ten slate Dec. 28 against Wisconsin.
Follow reporters Dalton James (@DaltonMJames) and Savannah Slone (@savrivers06) and columnist Ryan Canfield (@RyanCanfieldOnX) for updates throughout the Indiana women’s basketball season.
