UNE coach not unhappy over team’s 7-4 start

University of New England women’s basketball coach Karol L’Heureux “feels pretty good” about her team’s 7-4 record at the holiday break, especially considering the Lady Knights have already faced some of their toughest competition.

“We lost to Plymouth (N.H.) State twice, first by four and the second time by two at the buzzer. They’re a very good team,” she said. “Then we lost to Bates, another good team, and I wasn’t upset with our 20-point loss to St. Joseph’s.”

That game was a high-scoring one, with St. Joe’s winning 113-93. “But that’s not bad,” L’Heureux said philosophically, “considering they have everybody in the state. I was happy with that game.”

UNE returns to action Jan. 7, hosting Eastern Nazarene.

Coming off a 20-6 year in which Biddeford-based UNE had to face Husson College in Bangor to qualify for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics District 5-East tournament, the Lady Knights won that game, but then lost at home to the same team in the quarterfinal.

The main disappointment for L’Heureux this year was that 5-11 senior forward Laura Taylor of Dover-Foxcroft was unable to return since she’s away from campus for medical training; also, 5-6 junior guard Joanne Levesque of Augusta chose to take a semester off. That left a roster of 10.

L’Heureux has an alternating starting lineup, but usually goes with co-captain Lisa Nejezchleba, a 6-foot senior center from Georgetown, Mass.; 5-2 junior guard Cathy Bickford of Benton; 5-9 sophomore forward Maureen Cahill of Walpole, Mass.; and 5-6 sophomore guard Darcie Trudeau of East Brookfield, Mass. Alternating in starting roles are 5-6 senior guard and co-captain Laurie Marcucci of So. Portland and 5-6 sophomore guard Karen Bailey of Portland.

Nejezchleba is 12 points shy of the 1,000-point career mark which she should reach Jan. 7 since she’s averaging 17 points per game. She’s shooting 56 percent from the floor and averaging 11.5 rebounds and L’Heureux reports she is “playing really well, as a senior should play.”

Bickford ended the first semester with a splash, scoring 30, 20 and 13 points in the last three games from her point guard position.

Cahill was a fall surprise. A reserve last year, she worked hard all summer and came back strong enough to earn a starting position. Averaging 49 percent from the floor for 15 points per game, she’s hitting 65 percent from the line and pulling down eight rebounds.

It isn’t often you hear a coach say this, but L’Heureux believes Trudeau “runs the court faster than most women can.” In tip-top shape, she can take the ball inside and hit the 3-pointer as well as lead the fast break.

Marcucci is averaging five assists a game while shooting 40 percent from the floor and from the 3-point range. Bailey’s last three games were top-notch from the line when she hit 6-for-7, 5-for-6 and 6-for-7. Hitting 45 percent from the floor and averaging five assists, she’s making 48 percent of her 3-point attempts.

The reserves include Jonesboro senior Coral Snowdeal, a 5-8 forward, and 5-10 Portland forward Lisa Hilton. The freshman recruits are 5-7 guard Hedi Mauger of Belmont, N.H., who will join the team next semester following knee surgery, and 5-10 center Krista Chute who’s seen a lot playing time for Nejezchleba.

With her squad of 10, L’Heureux thinks “the chances are pretty good” that UNE will make a tournament appearance. “We need to beat Thomas and UMF (twice) and we’ve already beaten them this semester. And we have a great shot at Husson this year. If we win those games we have a chance to make the playoffs.”

UNE Schedule: Jan. 7 Eastern Nazarene, 7 p.m.; 12-13 UNE Tournament with Johnson State, Lyndon State and Roger Williams; 15 Green Mountain College, 5:30 p.m.; 19 at UMFK, 1 p.m.; 20 at UMPI, noon; 24 at St. Joseph’s, 5:30 p.m.; 26 Husson, 4 p.m.; 29 at Eastenr Nazarene, 6 p.m.; 31 at Thomas, 5:30 p.m.; Feb. 2 at UMF, 5:30 p.m.; 4 at USM, 5:30 p.m.; 9 at Husson, 4 p.m.; 13 Bowdoin, 6 p.m.; 15 UMPI, 6 p.m.; 16 UMFK, 1 p.m.; 20 NAIA District 5-East quarterfinals; 24 district semifinals; 25 district finals.