Iowa State freshman Aliyah Konate’s career ‘over before it starts’ due to back injury

Iowa State's Aliyah Konate, a 6-foot-4 freshman from Germany, won't continue her basketball career in Ames due to persistent back problems that kept her out of the first 10 contests this season.

ISU coach Bill Fennelly made the announcement after the Cyclones' 88-57 win against Delaware State on Sunday and said her scholarship will be open for the next recruiting class.

'Our medical staff has evaluated her and made the decision that Aliyah cannot play basketball at Iowa State,” Fennelly said. 'Her back is not going to allow that. So her career is over before it starts.

'She went home for Christmas to Germany. We told her to go home. Her plans are to come back and finish school in the spring and then we'll make some decisions.”

Iowa State's Seanna Johnson was named Big 12 co-Player of the Week on Monday after scoring 25 points and grabbing 10 rebounds against Delaware State. Her award marked the fourth time in six weeks an ISU player has been recognized as Player of the Week - Jadda Buckley has also earned it.

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