VCU's Calhoun promises to be back stronger after ACL tear

As excited as we were for VCU to beat nationally ranked Arizona State last week, the gray cloud over it was the loss of Camille Calhoun for the season to those nasty letters again: ACL, MCL.

The 6-0 junior guard/forward took off for a layup in the third quarter, and in her words, "At the last minutes, I tried to change direction so I could do a move to get around a girl in the air."

That's when her knee gave way, and Calhoun felt the pain while airborne. 

"I just fell to the floor and threw the ball up; it hurt so bad," she said. "But I'm already doing well, trying to get my range of motion back."

Her ACL torn and her MCL sprained, Calhoun will have surgery on Dec. 29. Other than an injury to that same kneecap at Archbishop Spalding High in Severn, Md., this is her first serious injury playing basketball.

As well as the Rams are playing right now, this is a blow. Calhoun started six games and her 11.3 ppg is tied with Isis Thorpe for the top spot on the team. Her .493 percentage leads the Rams (6-2), who follow up dates with Maryland Eastern Shore and High Point by hosting Old Dominion and William and Mary on Dec. 19 and 21, respectively.

Calhoun promises she'll be cheering from the bench, and anticipating a red shirt year, she promises, "I'll be stronger and better for the next two season."