the Informer

GOBLACKBEARS.COM

The University of Maine women’s basketball team has had a rough season, entering the America East Conference Championships winning only four of 27 games played this season, leaving them only 2-14 within the conference.

However discouraging it’s record may appear, it is only one game behind record-wise. They defeated Vermont and UMBC once each.

Despite their disappointing record, the Vermont Black Bears are not last statistically in the conference. They remain above Vermont for second to last place in total points scored this season and points per game, putting up an average of 54.4 points per game on the board. Surprisingly enough, they are second behind UMBC in their free throw percentage, head and shoulders above third place UNH with a .715.

The University of Maine women’s team stands seventh in field goal percentages with a .348 above Albany and Vermont.

They stand in third with rebounds offensively, and their overall rebounding margin leaves them in eighth, but still above Boston University with 38 average rebounds per game.
The Black Bears are sixth in three-pointers and steals. Several of the University of Maine’s women were ranked in the top 30 girls in the conference for their individual statistics. Beyond having to play well, these girls have to have played in 75 percent of their team’s games, which for the girls of Maine is slightly over the 20 game benchmark:
Freshman guard Ashleigh Roberts (No. 1) was ranked eleventh in the conference for scoring. Recording 299 points, five three-pointers and averaging 10.7 points a game, Roberts is sure to be a valuable asset for Maine and will prove to be a breakout star in future seasons.

Sophomore guard Amber Smith (No. 30) is also ranked for her individual scoring statistics, putting up 276 points over the season and averaging 10.2 points per game. She also has made an impressive 24 three-pointers this season thus far.

A very young team that primarily comprises freshman and sophomores, the Black Bears will only need to replace senior guard Tanna Ross (No. 5). Ross has been playing for all four years of her career at UMaine, starting almost all the games this season and playing in 27 games last season, starting nine of those.

Her junior year she had a season-high 20 points per game.