Allie Clement, the former McAuley High star who led the Lions to four consecutive Class A state championships, will undergo surgery on her left knee Thursday morning to repair a torn ACL.

Clement, a redshirt junior at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, injured her knee in a 64-42 victory over Rhode Island on Dec. 6, the Red Foxes’ ninth game of the season.

Allie Clement twice was named the Maine Sunday Telegram's Player of the Year in girls' basketball while playing for McAuley High (now Maine Girls' Academy). (Photo by John Ewing/Staff Photographer)

It’s the second consecutive year Clement has had her season end with a knee injury. Last year she blew out her right knee in Marist’s third game of the season.

But Clement is determined to come back from this injury.

“The way I look at it, I was going to get the surgery regardless, whether I come back to play or not,” she said in a phone interview from New York City, where she will have the surgery. “In my mind, I’m not ready to give up on basketball. I can’t imagine not rehabbing to come back to play. I know it’s a lengthy recovery and can be painful, but I’m not in a place where I’m ready to be done.”

Clement, who made the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference all-rookie team as a freshman, was averaging 5.8 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists for Marist (3-8). In her career, she is averaging 7.5 points and 1.5 assists in 75 games, 60 of which she started.

Her father, Brian Clement, had asked Allie if she thought she would return for a fifth year, which she was granted because of a medical redshirt last year. “I asked her if she wanted to be done,” he said. “To focus on her career.”

Allie Clement, who will graduate in May with a double major in business and psychology, was adamant she wanted to return – after the initial shock and pain of the injury. She has one year of athletic eligibility remaining and will study for her MBA.

“What really drives me is my love for the game and my love of my teammates,” she said. “I can’t picture giving up on them. I’ve never been the type to give up, especially not on other people.

“I want to contribute in any way I can, whether I’m on the bench or on the court. Hopefully it’s on the court.”

Clement finished her career at McAuley (now Maine Girls’ Academy) with 1,374 points and twice was named the Maine Sunday Telegram’s Player of the Year in girls’ basketball.

BATES 69, BABSON 63: Melanie Binkhorst had a career-best 17 points to lead five Bobcats in double-figures as Bates (4-6) grabbed its second win in two days, defeating the Beavers (6-3) at Babson Park, Massachusetts.

Nina Davenport and Emily Freedland each had 14 points for the Bobcats, while Lyse Henshaw and Julia Middlebrook each contributed 11.

(2) NOTRE DAME 91, MARQUETTE 85: Arike Ogunbowale scored 22 points and the Fighting Irish (11-0) beat Marquette (6-5) in overtime at South Bend, Indiana, to avoid a big upset.

Down 73-70 with 44 seconds left in regulation, Notre Dame rallied to tie it when Kathryn Westbeld hit the first of two free throws, got the rebound on her miss on the second and scored with 40 seconds left. Notre Dame then held on after scoring the first six points of overtime.

(3) LOUISVILLE 62. AIR FORCE 50: Myisha Hines-Allen scored 16 points and freshman Dana Evans tied a career high with 14 points to help Louisville (14-0) beat host Air Force (0-11)

MEN’S BASKETBALL

CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE 84, MAINE 57: Tyler Kohl had 18 points, a career-high 14 rebounds and six assists to help host Central Connecticut State (6-6) beat the Black Bears (3-10) and snap a three-game skid.

It was Kohl’s second career double-double. The guard made 2 of 2 from the free-throw line and has hit 17 of 17 over the last five games.

Aaron Calixte, the only Black Bear to score in double figures, had 16 points. The Black Bears shot just 27.3 percent.

CONCORDIA (WIS.) 82, BATES 56: Jordan Johnson scored 17 points to lead five players in double figures, and the Falcons (6-5) closed with a 20-5 run to put away the Bobcats (5-3) in the opening game of the Daytona Beach Shootout in Florida.

Andrew Fratzke added 16 points and eight rebounds for Concordia.

Jeff Spellman led Bates with 13 points. Nick Lynch added 12 points and pulled down nine boards.

(4) DUKE 104, EVANSVILLE 40: Freshman Wendell Carter Jr. scored a season-best 27 points, and the Blue Devils (12-1) routed Evansville (10-3) at Durham, North Carolina.

Marvin Bagley III added 18 points and Grayson Allen finished with 16 to help the Blue Devils bounce back from their lone loss with one of their best defensive performances of the season.

(10) WEST VIRGINIA 77, COPPIN STATE 38: Teddy Allen scored a career-high 24 points and grabbed nine rebounds as host West Virginia (10-1) beat Coppin State (0-12).

Allen led West Virginia to a 15-1 run to close the first half for a 42-18.

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