NIU sophomore Jamie Wilson knew it felt the same.

The 6-foot-1 center thought it was the same, but prayed it wasn’t.

As it turned out, Wilson knew the feeling of tearing her anterior cruciate ligament all too well.

After a year of rehab from partially tearing her right ACL in preseason workouts for the 2002-’03 women’s basketball season, Wilson once again found herself bench-ridden, nursing a torn ACL, this time on her left knee.

In the Huskies’ first regular-season game against Loyola on Nov. 21, Wilson collided and bumped knees with a Loyola player. The redshirt sophomore collapsed at midcourt, grabbing her left knee in pain.

“She didn’t see me coming from behind her,” Wilson said. “She was dribbling kind of wild and when she turned, she hit my knee. I knew I heard a pop and it felt exactly the same way as last time.”

Wilson had to be helped off the court and later returned to the bench on crutches.

After rehabbing from a major injury once already, Wilson knows what she’s in for during the upcoming months.

“It’s frustrating,” she said. “Once you get into it, you work real hard to prepare for next year.”

The Reynoldsburg, Ohio, native said last year’s rehab taught her the difference between discomfort and pain.

As a freshman, Wilson was one of six Huskies to play in all 30 of the team’s games. She started six of those games and was expected to compete for a starting role last season.

“At this point, it’s just wait and see,” NIU coach Carole Hammerle said. “It’s a huge loss for us.”

Wilson averaged 4.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game her freshman year. During NIU’s two exhibition games this year, she averaged 8.5 points and 8.5 rebounds.

“She’s a hard worker, a great player to play with and a great person that always helps her teammates out,” NIU senior guard Stephanie Smith said. “It’s hard to see a person like Jamie go down twice. I prayed it wasn’t an ACL [injury], but it’s just another hurdle for her to climb.”

Sophomore Joi Scott has helped ease the pain of losing Wilson. The 6-footer has averaged 11.3 points and 4.3 rebounds a game for the Huskies.

With two major knee injuries during her time at NIU, it’s uncertain when Wilson will return. One thing Wilson is sure about though is that she will again return to the Huskies’ hardwood.

“No one can tell me I can’t play,” Wilson said.