South Carolina women’s basketball coach Susan Walvius announced last Friday that freshman guard Courtney Newton, a Flowery Branch grad, underwent successful surgery to repair an ACL injury in her left knee.

Walvius anticipates Newton will be ready to play at the beginning of the 2008-09 season.

"Courtney really tried to play through the injury and get back this season, but it turned out it was best for her in the long run to have the surgery now," Walvius said.

Newton, who was averaging 4.8 points per game, suffered the injury Nov. 23 against Illinois. After undergoing nearly two months of rehab, the team medical staff determined that surgery was the best option.