University of Richmond Athletics
Injury Sidelines Rachael Bilney For 2010-11 Season
10/06/2010 | Women's Basketball
Oct. 6, 2010
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. -
Junior guard Rachael Bilney will be sidelined the 2010-11 season due to a season-ending injury, women's basketball coach Michael Shafer announced Wednesday.
"I am heartbroken for Rachael," said Shafer. "I don't have words to really describe how I feel right now. It is simply not fair for her to have this happen. She had worked so hard in the off season to ensure that this would be her best season ever. Her commitment to our team and to her improvement was on display every day. She has been a catalyst for our team's growth. The team, together, made a decision to get better, to overcome adversity and to be tougher- Rachael is a leader in that. Her ability to lead and communicate on the floor, not to mention her basketball ability, will be missed more than any of us realize. The reality is, the team was doing it for each other and now we need some people to compete for Rachael. We will overcome this adversity, but it would have been a lot easier if we had Rach."
Bilney, a junior guard from Mill Valley, Calif., appeared in 30 games last season and scored a career-best 12 points against Duquesne Jan. 30. Bilney was fourth on the team with 34 three-pointers and had a 35 percent accuracy from long range. Bilney shot 40 percent from the field and scored in double-figures three of her last four games.
Rachael's twin sister, Sam, missed 12 games in 2008-09 and all of the 2009-10 season with an injury. Sam is expected to return this season.
Richmond opens its season with a two-game road swing at Western Carolina and East Tennessee State Nov. 12-14.
