COLUMBIA, S.C. — Ashlyn Watkins, a forward for the South Carolina women’s basketball team, has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to a torn ACL in her left knee, as confirmed by the university on Tuesday.

The injury occurred during the first half of the Gamecocks’ recent 95-68 victory against Mississippi State. The university mentioned that Watkins will undergo surgery in the upcoming weeks to address the injury.

Standing at 6 feet 3 inches tall, the junior player averaged 7.2 points and led the team with 6.4 rebounds per game across 14 appearances this season. In addition, she contributed 1.9 blocks per game during her time on the court.

Earlier this season, Watkins was absent for the team’s opening game due to a suspension following an incident that involved an arrest for assault and kidnapping, charges which were later dismissed.

The next challenge for South Carolina will be on Thursday as they face Texas A&M. Following this matchup, the team is set to compete against five consecutive ranked opponents, putting them to the test in a demanding stretch of games.