Cindy Blodgett, who has stepped up her offensive production in recent weeks, is the leading scorer in Division I women’s college basketball.

Blodgett, the University of Maine’s star point guard, has poured in 41 points in each of her last two games to push her scoring average to 26.1 points per game.

The Black Bears’ elusive, 5-foot-9 floor leader ranked fifth in the latest NCAA stats, which included Monday’s games. But South Carolina’s Shannon Johnson tallied only 16 Tuesday night and slipped to 25.1 ppg, allowing Blodgett to vault to the top of the list.

Of the other three players in the top five, Tanja Kostic of Oregon State (25.5 ppg) and Lara Webb of Lamar (25.1 ppg) were scheduled to play Thursday night and Manhattan’s Gina Somma (25.2 ppg) plays tonight.

Maine coach Joanne Palombo-McCallie said she is trying to implement an offensive scheme that will allow Blodgett even more of an opportunity to make things happen.

“She’s a great player, and she’s improved,” Palombo said. “We’re trying to do some things offensively; more flow-based and more giving opportunities.”

Blodgett, who recently reached 1,000 career points in 46 games, faster than any previous UMaine women’s player, has been especially hot of late. In her last seven games, dating back to a Dec. 27 contest against Santa Clara, Blodgett has connected for 33.4 points per game.

That is a large increase from the 20.9 average she had through the first 10 games.

“She reads incredibly well,” Palombo said. “If you watch her play, that is what makes her a true nemesis. If you contest her shooting and the ball gets passed around and then suddenly Cindy cuts somewhere, open. I think she’s developing very nicely.”

Senior shooting guard Matt Moore is expected to start for coach Rudy Keeling’s UMaine men tonight against New Hampshire after missing the last two contests with a muscle pull in his thigh.

Moore, a 6-foot-3 defensive specialist from Townsville, Australia, isn’t back to 100 percent, but should give the Bears a boost with their defensive pressure. He is averaging 9.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 26.5 minutes per game this season and is coming off a season-high 21 points in Maine’s Jan. 9 win over Vermont.

Junior Hank McDaniel, who has not been with the team since Jan. 8, is tending to academic matters but remains on the squad.

The 6-7 forward from Chicago wants to stay with the team and is committed to improving his grades, Keeling said. While McDaniel is eligible by NCAA standards, he was not meeting Keeling’s expectations.

“I told him that for now I wanted him to concentrate on his academics and that he’d be part of the team,” said Keeling, who has no written rules but evaluates players individually and called McDaniel’s performance unacceptable. “He said he wanted to show me that he could stay and be a good student.”

McDaniel is expected to return to practice once he has exhibited a renewed commitment to his studies.

Freshman Josh Nash has gone home to Waldoboro to recover from surgery to his injured left ankle, which had been weak and giving out on him. Nash said he underwent reconstructive surgery Thursday to reattach stretched ligaments.

“It went fine,” said Nash, whose foot will be immobilized for about six weeks. “The doctor said I should be able to play in around three months.”

The injury will force the former Medomak Valley standout and The injury will force the former Medomak Valley standout and NEWS All-Maine first-team choice to redshirt this season. He Nash averaged 2.2 points in five games this season for Maine.

The University of Maine hockey team, minus four players who quit earlier this season, have lost yet another player.

Freshman forward Nils Satterstrom, who played in three games and didn’t register a point, has left school and returned to his native Vail, Colorado where he awaits Feb. 5 back surgery according to interim head coach Greg Cronin.

“He’ll be a medical redshirt,” said Cronin.