Sept. 10, 2009

BEAUMONT, Texas - The day after Christmas last year began cheerily for Myriam Igoufe.

The Lamar University women's basketball team was nine games deep into its 2008-2009 schedule as Igoufe, a 5-foot-9 guard, took the practice court for the first time that afternoon. She had just been declared eligible for her sophomore season by the NCAA Clearing House, and she was eager to prove her worth to the team.

Making the occasion even sweeter for Igoufe was the arrival of her mother Mima Igoufe from Bourges, France that very day. She was to witness her daughter's first collegiate basketball game three nights later against the University of North Dakota.

With only a couple of minutes left in that first practice, however, Igoufe's sweet day took a sudden sour turn. As she prepared to execute a pass with her left hand, she twisted her left knee.

Igoufe crumpled to the floor, writhing in pain as tears began trickling down her cheeks. Within an instant, Mima Igoufe was at her daughter's side, stroking her hand in an attempt to lend comfort.

"I had been doing so good -- oh so good," said the younger Igoufe while taking a break from her Wednesday afternoon study hall session in recalling her unfortunate accident. "Then, all of a sudden I was lying on the floor crying and my mother was holding my hand.

"I was hoping it would be just a minor twist, but the pain told me it would something more serious."

Indeed, it was. An MRI revealed that the ACL in Igoufe's left knee was torn and that season-ending surgery would be required. On Jan. 16, the day before her 19th birthday, Igoufe underwent arthroscopic knee surgery.

"It was a very heartbreaking injury, because Myriam went through a lot of trials and tribulations getting eligible through the NCAA Clearing House," said Larry Tidwell, the Lady Cardinals' head coach. "Her mom was sitting near her when she went down. It was a hard injury for all of us to take.

"Myriam would've been our best on-ball defender last season. Defensive intensity is her forte, but she can also do a lot in transition offense. She's an excellent perimeter shooter."

Three days after her surgery, Igoufe began a rigorous, four-month rehabilitation program that eventually helped her qualify for the French National Team that competed in the World Championships in Bangkok, Thailand in July and August.

"My total focus was getting back from the injury and getting prepared for the national team," said Igoufe, who is known as "Frenchy" to her Lady Cardinal teammates. "I worked every day - even Sundays.

"There were 30 players at the tryouts for the national team, and the coaches eventually cut the squad to 12. We practiced seven hours a day. Everyone there had the potential to become professional players.

"Fortunately, I made the national team, and I got to play against some of the best players in the world in Thailand. We placed seventh out of 16 teams.

"We lost to the USA team in the quarterfinals. We were ahead in the first half, but they (the U.S. players) were physically stronger than we were. We wound up losing by 12 points."

"The thing that shows you the magnitude of Myriam's dedication and compassion for the game of basketball is that she went back to France in June and fought her way onto the national team," said Tidwell. "I've seen those girls play, and they are some world-class players.

"Making that team speaks volumes for what kind of player Myriam can be for us. She will be a factor for the Lady Cardinals. We have her penciled in at the shooting guard right now, but she has the skills to play the 1, the 2 or the 3."

Despite her wealth of international experience, Igoufe says she still has much to learn to adapt to the style of basketball being played at the NCAA Division 1 level.

"I'm glad to be back and to be getting ready for this next season," said Igoufe, a pre-law major. "I'm trying to get used to American basketball. It's a lot different - a lot tougher - over here.

"You never get too good. There's always room for improvement. I'm working on everything, especially my strength. I'm also working on my English. I can use more improvement there, too."

Igoufe said she has received plenty of help and encouragement in her quest to find her proper niche on the Lady Cardinal team.

"My teammates - especially Brittney Williams (senior forward) -- have been tremendous in helping me adjust and to feel at home," said Igoufe. "Also, last season Agnija Reke (who was a senior) helped me a lot in coping with my injury. I appreciate very much everything my teammates have been doing for me.

"All of the people on the training staff were big helps, too, and I want to thank them. I was down, down because of the injury, but they helped me get through it."

"We're concentrating on getting ready for our season. I want to be useful to the team - to help us win the conference championship and to win the conference tournament.

"My mother will come in December again this year, and hopefully everything will be alright this time."