The Missouri State women’s basketball program will likely be without the services of Brandi Johnson for the remainder of the 2006-07 season after the junior forward suffered a knee injury in practice Tuesday afternoon.

Johnson is expected to undero surgery on an as of yet undetermined date after an MRI confirmed ligament damage in her right knee on Wednesday. This marks the second consecutive year Johnson will be forced to the sidelines by a knee injury, after suffering ligament damage to her left knee during the 2005-06 preseason.

Johnson started in each of the Lady Bears’ first two regular season games this past weekend in Kansas City, averaging 7.0 points and 6.5 rebounds. She led Missouri State with seven rebounds in a 79-70 season-opening loss to Iowa on Saturday.

The Cedar Hill, Tex., native joined the Missouri State program last fall after averaging 23 points a game and leading Panola (Tex.) Junior College to a 29-5 record and top 10 national ranking.

"Losing Brandi is certainly a tough blow to take," said Lady Bears’ head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson. "Everyone, including our freshmen who got here during the summer, is aware of the unbelievable effort Brandi expended to rehabilitate her knee after her surgery last year. She worked tremendously hard to get herself ready to play and win a starting job and she’s been so excited about finally getting back on the court. Our hearts go out to her during this tough time."

Missouri State is scheduled to open the home portion of its schedule against the Arkansas State Lady Indians on Monday, Nov. 20, at 7:05 p.m. at Hammons Student Center.