Grace Berger Attacked Her Recovery Like She Does the Midrange Jumper

Indiana women's basketball guard Grace Berger had her longest career break this season after suffering a right knee injury that took her out for six weeks. She's now played in seven games since the incident and has been putting up huge numbers just like her old self would.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana women's basketball guard Grace Berger has now played in seven games since her return after a six-week injury recovery.

In late November, the Louisville, Ky. native injured her right knee at the Las Vegas Invitational in the Hoosiers' third possession of the Auburn game. The MRI was best news expected, as she didn't need surgery, just some TLC and a lot of training to get back to normal.

"She attacked her recovery like she attacks the paint to get to her midrange jumper," Indiana head coach Teri Moren said. 

Indiana's Grace Berger (34) watches her teammates warm up before the Indiana versus Morehead State women's basketball game at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022.

© Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK

Moren said she saw a sense of urgency in Berger to recover, but it was smart. Originally they were told Berger could go in four to six weeks, and she looked good at four. However, Berger stayed patient and didn't want to play earlier and re-aggravate the knee.

"The first game back versus Northwestern if you would have told me she'd been out for six weeks, I would've said you're crazy because she just looked so comfortable," Moren said.

In the Hoosiers' 72-50 win over the Wildcats, Berger played 27 minutes and put up 16 points. She's scored in double figures all seven games since her return including a season-high 21 points in the Hoosiers' 91-68 win versus Rutgers on Sunday afternoon.

"(Sunday) was another one of those days where I thought her timing, her stamina, her moxie that she's played with really showed up in a big kind of way," Moren said. "If anyone deserves it, it's Grace Berger."

Moren expressed timing and stamina as her main concerns since Berger lost some cardio training while in recovery. Berger did however crush the bike exercises, also careful to not be reckless when working out, Moren said.

"I feel pretty good out there I think," Berger said. "Maybe there's some times when I'm not as bouncy as I used to be or maybe don't have the burst quite yet, but every single game I feel like I'm getting better, so I'd say I'm pretty close to being my old self."

Indiana's Grace Berger (34) is fouled by Maryland's Faith Masonius (13) as she shoots during the second half of the Indiana versus Maryland women's basketball game at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023.

© Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK

Moren said Berger has also been taking extra care of her body like always. She's even a vegetarian as her last name doesn't suggest and is mindful of what food goes in. Junior guard Sydney Parrish noticed this too. Berger would work on anything she could, not letting her 'rest' period go to waste.

"If she couldn't move her legs, she would be doing something with her arms," Parrish said. 

"She's one of the hardest workers I've ever met and was just working day in and day out every single day to get back on the court whether that's strengthening her knee or working on her conditioning or just eating right."

Not only did Berger focus on her physical health, but her mental health displayed veteran status as she remained focused on helping her team from the bench and not feeling sorry for herself, she said.

"It's the first time I missed a lot of games in my career even before college, but I realized A, I would be back and B, we still have goals as a team we want to accomplish whether I'm on the court or not," Berger said. 

Indiana's Grace Berger (34) thanks another player for an assist during the first half of the Indiana versus Ohio State women's basketball game at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023.

© Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK

One would think getting back into a routine would be enough work for a recovering athlete, but not for Berger. She's also giving special attention to her three-point game, and that showed as she connected on 3-for-3 triples versus the Scarlet Knights.

"Playing at that next level, she knows she's going to have to be consistent from beyond the arc, and it's something she's really worked hard on," Moren said.

The strong mental and physical health is displayed through Berger every time she steps on the court sending an example to her supportive teammates but to all the eyes of Hoosier Nation who eagerly awaited her full recovery.

"This young lady's a pro, and she conducts herself like a pro everyday when she walks into this building," Moren said.

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• HOOSIERS TAKE DOWN RUTGERS Sunday afternoon, Indiana women's basketball got its 20th win of the season with a win over Rutgers as four Hoosiers scored in double-figures led by guard Grace Berger in front of another big crowd of more than 8,000 Hoosier fans in the Hall. CLICK HERE
• INDIANA - RUTGERS MATCH NOTES Sunday afternoon, No. 6 Indiana women's basketball will welcome Rutgers to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall for the first meeting between the two since 2019. The Big Ten foes' last three regular season matches were canceled due to COVID-19. Match details and how to watch are inside. CLICK HERE