Maryland basketball standout Brene Moseley faces knee rehab again

The instant Brene Moseley planted her left leg and heard the familiar pop, she had no doubt. Maryland’s promising sophomore point guard was out for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Adding to the exasperation were the setting and circumstances: an intrasquad scrimmage at Comcast Center on Oct. 21 during which Moseley absorbed no contact when her knee buckled. Teammates did all they could to console Moseley, suggesting she try to walk. If the joint could withstand that impact, they figured perhaps it would indicate a less severe prognosis.

Moseley refused.

“Everyone was trying to keep me calm and everything, but I knew,” Moseley said several days later while watching practice and moving around on crutches. “I knew. It just didn’t feel right. I didn’t even want to put pressure on it when I first did it because I was scared it was going to feel like this one.”

Moseley pointed to her right knee as she spoke. She had endured similar pain during her junior year at Paint Branch High School, where she was a first-team All-Met after leading the area in scoring. Then in the spring, Moseley tore multiple ligaments in her right knee during an AAU evaluation, scrapping her final year of high school basketball.

It wasn’t until late in her freshman season that Moseley regained full range of motion and was able play at top speed, cutting and darting deep into the lane and finding teammates for open shots without mind to her surgically repaired joint.

With Moseley at full health and set to take over as the starting point guard, the fifth-ranked Terrapins entered this season committed to nothing short of advancing to the Final Four. That remains in their plans, but the process won’t include Moseley, at least not on the court.

She instead is in the early stages of recovery and rehabilitation following surgery Nov. 2, and according to medical professionals with extensive knowledge of ACL procedures, it may require another 18 months before Moseley can perform without limitations.

“It’s going to be a lot of teachable moments for her this year in terms of the point guard responsibilities, being able to teach her from the bench especially going into next season,” Maryland Coach Brenda Frese said after the Terrapins’ 88-47 victory over Mount St. Mary’s in their opener on Nov. 9.

Gender inequity

The ACL is a ligament in the knee that crosses from the bottom of the femur to the top of the tibia to help stabilize the joint, and it has become a regular part of the sports vernacular given how many notable athletes have had a tear. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose are recent examples.

The University of Maryland has become all too familiar with the terminology as well. This year, quarterbacks C.J. Brown, Perry Hills and Caleb Rowe tore their ACLs, as did starting linebacker Demetrius Hartsfield. Essence Townsend, a reserve center for the women’s basketball team, tore hers Nov. 5 in the second half of the Terrapins’ exhibition game against Goldey Beacom.