Elizabeth City State’s women’s basketball team has been a magnet for injuries all season and they recently got more bad news.

Junior Shatara Jackson, who suffered a knee injury on Jan. 2 will have surgery and miss the rest of the season. Jackson, who was leading the CIAA in scoring at 16.8 points per game when she went down, was originally feared to be done for the season just after the injury. But an MRI revealed a meniscus tear and it was thought was that she would be able to return.

Obviously, that will not be the case.

Also, earlier in the week it was learned that sophomore De’Rya Wylie is through for the season with an undisclosed illness. At this time, it is unclear whether Wylie will be able to return next year.

Wylie, a 5-foot-8 guard from Salisbury, averaged 3.1 points and 3.1 rebounds in 10 games this season, including five starts.

Making matters worse is forward Stephanie Harper missed all of the second half in a 74-72 loss to Shaw on Monday after twisting her knee. Harper, who leads the CIAA in rebounding, is resting and her status for Thursday’s game at St. Augustine’s is uncertain.

If Harper is unavailable, that leaves ECSU with just seven players in uniform, which is what the Lady Vikings finished the Shaw game with. Two fouled out, proving that the team is riding a razor thin line of not having enough players.

Still, coach Alico Dunk has no plans to bring anyone in, even if only to have enough bodies to run a true practice.

“I don’t know what we’re going to do. My assistant coaches have to join in practice now,” Dunk said. “We just have to go with it. We’ll play it by ear. We’re going to do what we have to do and find a way to get it done.”

ECSU travels to St. Augustine’s on Thursday, then begins Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association divisional play with a home game against Lincoln on Saturday.