Thomas seeking .500 hoop record

The Thomas College Terriers travel from Waterville to Lewiston Wednesday for a 5:30 p.m. game with Bates College, which opens the second semester of basketball for Coach Jim Verry’s 3-4 squad.

With four veteran starters among the six returnees and five newcomers, Verry believes a .500 season is a realistic goal for a relatively young squad.

“The first six games of this semester will be a good indicator of just what we can do and where we should expect to finish,” Verry said. Of those six games, four will be against teams that made at least a postseason appearance in their respective conferences last year.

The Terriers last played Dec. 12 and returned to practice Monday before classes resume on Wednesday.

While last year’s team relied pretty much on the strength of two players – guard Kristin Nielsen and center Julie Fabian – this year’s team is a more well-rounded and that may a real plus for the Terriers.

“We’re a much more well-balanced team this year,” Verry said. “Last year Kristin was averaging 20 points and Julie 17. This year we have four who are averaging in double figures.

“We’re getting outside scoring as well as inside scoring, so it’s going to be tougher for the opposition to key on Kristin and Julie. That helps a lot. Last year the other teams knew if they shut one of them down they didn’t have to worry too much about other people.”

Nielsen, the 5-foot-3 senior captain, returns to her starting role as the shooting guard and is averaging 12 points per game. Fabian, a 6-0 junior from Belgrade Lakes, returns as center and is averaging 15 ppg.

The other double-digit scorers are a newcomer and a reserve. Starting at the small forward spot is 5-8 freshman Stacy Hafford of Presque Isle, who is averaging 12.4 points per game, and sixth player Kathleen Hogan, a 5-9 sophomore forward from Jay, averaging 10 points.

Completing the starting lineup are returning sophomore starters from Westbrook: Mo McGinnis, a 5-7 forward; and 5-2 point guard Missy Daniels.

Bench players are 5-5 sophomore guard Kelli Record of Clinton and four freshmen: Michele Guerin, Biddeford; Beth Adams, Wilton; Joan Cressy, Fryeburg; and Tara Medeiros, Rochester, Mass.

Thomas was 9-16 last year in the NAIA.

“We’re definitely into the toughest part of our schedule,” Verry said. Additionally, the schedule is a tight one with some three-game weeks, and Verry doesn’t know how much of a factor that will be.

“This is a good team,” he said. “They’re fun to coach and they work hard. They should be able to make it to .500, but getting a tournament spot will be a challenge.”

THOMAS SCHEDULE: Jan. 9, at Bates, 5:30 p.m.; 12 Suffolk, 4 p.m.; 14 Husson, 7 p.m.; 16 at Colby, 5:30 p.m.; 19 at Wheaton, 2 p.m.; 21 UMF, 5:30 p.m.; 24 at UMM, 4 p.m.; 26 Westbrook, 2 p.m.; 29 at Bowdoin, 5:30 p.m.; 31 UNE, 5:30 p.m.; Feb. 2 at UMPI, 1 p.m.; 4 at St. Joseph’s, 5:30 p.m.; 6 at Westbrook, 7 p.m.; 8 UMPI, 8 p.m.; 9 UMFK, 1 p.m; 11 at Husson, 5:30 p.m.; 16 Norwich, 1 p.m.