The most-experienced point guard on the Colorado women's basketball team is out for the season after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament, the Buffs announced Thursday.

Junior Whitney Houston tore the ACL on her left knee during a workout on Wednesday.

"She is tough and she will respond," CU coach Kathy McConnell-Miller said in a statement. "We will turn this into a positive for Whitney and our program."

Houston will use her redshirt this season and maintain two years of eligibility when she returns. Surgery is scheduled for within the next two weeks.

Houston was expected to compete with incoming freshman Alyssa Fressle for the job of starting point guard. The Buffs also have reserve sophomore point guard Britney Blythe on the roster and junior guard Bianca Smith has filled in at point guard from time to time.

But Houston had the most experience at the position. She played key minutes down the stretch last season as the Buffs made a run to the WNIT semifinals.

The Memphis, Tenn., native averaged 4.3 points and 15 minutes per game last season.

Also Thursday, McConnell-Miller announced that reserve forward Chelsea Dale is out until December following this month's surgery to stabilize ligaments in her right ankle.