If anyone on this year’s ISU women’s basketball team qualifies as injury-prone, it’s Erica Junod. But you can bet your life she’s not concerned about it.

The 5-foot-7 guard appeared in 33 games during the 2000-01 season, but saw limited action last season due to a knee injury. She was also forced to redshirt her freshman year after coming down with mononucleosis prior to the regular season.

“I just go out to play,” Junod said. “If something happens, it’s going to happen.”

Junod tore her anterior cruciate ligament in a November practice last season and saw playing time in only 10 games. She returned three months after surgery and started the last two games of the season.

Despite the injury, Junod said she feels no ill effects from it. She admitted she was tentative with the knee during her comeback last season, but after a summer of training to get back into game style, she said it’s as good as new.

“It’s just as strong, if not stronger than what it was,” Junod said.

So strong that first-year assistant coach Jodi Steyer said the injury sometimes slips her mind.

“You kind of forget that she had to go through that last year,” Steyer said. “There has not one been one sign, starting off in practice, that there’s been anything wrong. She’s just been stronger than ever.”

Besides staying away from injury, ISU head basketball coach Bill Fennelly said Junod’s biggest challenge this season will be to take open shots when they present themselves.

He said she has a little bit of what he calls “Tracy Gahan disease'” a reluctance to shoot.

Backcourt teammate Lindsey Wilson said she hasn’t seen that so far in preseason workouts.

“This preseason, I don’t think she’s had a problem with that at all,” Wilson said. “Pretty much, if she’s open, she’s shooting it.”

Fennelly said if Junod can conquer that goal, he wouldn’t be surprised to see her average 12-14 points per game.

He said it might surprise some people, since she hasn’t accomplished that type of scoring yet, but he wouldn’t be shocked at all.

“Her shot is as good as anybody’s in the country,” Fennelly said. “If you wanted to take a video and show somebody how to shoot the ball, that’s the kid you take a video of.”

Fennelly also likes Junod’s athleticism, her defense against bigger players and her ability to rebound.

He said the experience Junod brings to the court as a fourth-year junior is also a strong point of her game.

Next season, she will be the only senior on the squad, so Fennelly hopes to see her start embracing more of a leadership role this year.

Steyer said Junod hasn’t been making many mistakes on the court — in any part of her game.

“She, probably, in practice, has been one of our most solid performers so far,” Steyer said. “She’s back to her old self, showing great leadership on the floor.”

Wilson, regarded as the leader of last year’s team, said Junod sets the standard with her style of play.

“She’s not the type to get in anyone’s face and tell them what to do, but she definitely leads by example,” Wilson said.

With the loss of Gahan, Angie Welle and their combined 35 points per game, the guard-oriented Cyclones will need Junod’s contributions.

Fennelly said the junior may be on the brink of a break-out year.

“We need her to really do the things that we’ve always hoped she could do,” Fennelly said. “I think she’s ready.”