The Oakland University women’s basketball team learned Monday that senior Bethany Watterworth will miss the remainder of the season.

The star forward averaged over 18 points per game last season and was named the Preseason Summit League Player of the Year for 2012-13. However, in the offseason, Watterworth sustained a back injury which has sidelined her for the entire season.

“This is the right decision for Bethany,” head coach Beckie Francis said. “A player’s health and safety has to come first and this isn’t something we wanted her to try and rush back from.”

In her absence, the Golden Grizzlies have gone 7-10 this year, managing only one win in conference play. Their 1-4 record places them dead last in the Summit League standings.

“Losing a player like Bethany is never easy,” Francis said. “But I think that it will allow some of our younger players to develop. Even without her in the lineup this year, I still have high expectations for this Oakland team.”

That young talent has been on full display this season, with the top three Oakland scorers being freshman. Elena Popkey has scored 11.3 points per game, Olivia Nash has chipped in 11.1 and Annemarie Hamlet averages 9.3.

While Watterworth will not suit up this season, her Oakland career may not be over. The three-time All-Summit League player is pursuing a medical redshirt. If granted, this season would not count against her four years of eligibility, and Watterworth could play as a fifth-year senior during the 2013-14 campaign.

John Cebelak, the Compliance Coordinator of Oakland athletics, explained the aspects of Watterworth’s situation.

“Bethany’s ‘medical redshirt’ year is actualy considered to be a ‘redshirt year’ based on being medically unable to compete,” Cebelak said.“ Student-athletes have a ‘five year clock’ (which starts when they first enroll full-time at any college) to use four ‘seasons of competition’, which is defined as any intercollegiate competition (even one second of one game).”

Cebelak stated that since Bethany did not compete at all this season, NCAA rules dictate she still has one season remaining on her ‘Five year clock’ to particpate as a college athlete.

“Our office doesn’t even need to apply for a medical waiver in this situation,” Celebak said. “We just need to show she never competed,” Celebak said.

OU looks to climb out of the league cellar with a three game road trip starting on Thursday. The Grizzlies will visit Kansas City, South Dakota and Fort Wayne to close out their January schedule.