For most collegiate athletes, tearing an ACL three different times would probably result in the end of a career. However, for Pioneer senior Tyesha Lowery, these injuries have only motivated her to become better.
Now playing in back to back seasons for the Pioneers for the first time in her career, Lowery is having the best season in her six-year DU career.
Lowery is leading her team in scoring and the Sun Belt Conference in steals (ranks 15th nationally). She not only feels that the time she has spent sidelined by knee injuries has not hindered her, but actually helped her to become a better player.
“Just watching the games when I was hurt has helped me become a much smarter player,” Lowery said of the time she has spent injured. “I learned a lot just from watching everyone else play.”
Lowery came to DU after four impressive seasons at Sam Houston High School in Arlington, Texas.
“I came for the great education and the coaches and players,” said Lowery about her decision making process. “I didn’t want to stay in Texas and I thought that Denver was a great city.”
The adjustment to the change of scenery was not a hard one, Lowery said. However, there were some things she had to get used to.
“The altitude was really hard, I’m still not used to it completely,” Lowery said of playing basketball in the Mile High City starting with the 2001-02 season.
Playing behind three highly talented guards her freshman season, Lowery had a stellar first year as a Pioneer, seeing action in 24 games.
Lowery’s sophomore year didn’t go as smoothly. She suffered a season-ending ACL tear in a preseason exhibition game. It was her second ACL tear in four years, as she had a similar injury during her junior year of high school.
After a year of rehab, Lowery was back in the Pioneer line-up for what would be her redshirt sophomore season. She started 15 games on the year, including the final 10, and led the Pioneers with 77 assists.
But, it would be back to the sidelines the following year, as Lowery once again suffered an ACL tear, this time after chipping in six points in her first start of the year. She was forced to take a medical redshirt for the season.
Lowery once again worked hard to rehabilitate her knee and was ready to play for what would be considered her redshirt junior season.
“I wouldn’t say it was hard,” said Lowery of the rehabbing process. “It was hard to not worry about my knee, though, when I came back. I was scared that it could happen again.”
The fear of hurting her knee again certainly did not slow her down during her junior year of eligibility, as she started all but one game for the Pioneers. She was second on the team in scoring, averaging 10.1 points per game, and first in steals with 62.
Now, in her what will be her last season as a Pioneer, Lowery feels that she has improved a great deal during her six years at DU.
“I’ve gotten better every year, I think,” Lowery said. “My decision making is much better now then when I came here.”
The experience that Lowery has gathered during her time as a Pioneer is invaluable to her and her team, helping them to a 9-6 record going into Monday night’s game at Arkansas State.
Lowery has led the Pioneers to the top of nearly every team defense statistic in the SBC. But, the success they have seen so far this year is not enough for Lowery.
“I want us to be able to beat all the teams that we should, and beat up on some that we shouldn’t,” said Lowery. “I want to show those teams that think they can come in here (Hamilton Gym) and whoop us.”
Lowery also pointed out that her team’s main goal is to win the SBC tournament and earn a birth in the NCAA tournament.
Despite what happens the rest of the season, Lowery wishes to continue to play basketball after leaving DU.
“I would really like to keep playing,” Lowery said. “I would want to go play [professionally] overseas or else try to make a WNBA team through try-outs.”
With the obstacles that Lowery already conquered in her career, it would be hard to be against her.
