The entire state will be able to follow Cindy Blodgett and the University of Maine women’s basketball team during their quest for a second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament.

The North Atlantic Conference has announced that The Maine Broadcasting System (WLBZ, Ch. 2 in Bangor; 6ALIVE, Ch. 6 in Portland) has be awarded the rights to televise UMaine games during the Webber/Exxon NAC Women’s Basketball Tournament.

Coach Joanne Palombo-McCallie’s Black Bears have clinched home court for as long as they win in the tourney, which will be played March 3, 5, and 9.

“It gives us a chance to build on the excitement that has been created during the regular season,” said WLBZ General Manager Judy Horan.

The MBS has already televised regular-season games this season. The move

“We look forward to a successful and exciting tournament in 1996 and expect that television coverage of these contests will enhance the qualitythe championship,” said NAC Commissioner Stuart Haskell.

Television coverage will provide statewide access for UMaine fans and NAC Assistant Commissioner Julie Power said the league does not expect the broadcasts to adversely affect attendance at Alfond Arena.

“We hope the TV coverage will enhance exposure for the conference but not hurt the attendance,” said Power, who mentioned that ticket prices are the same ($8 general admission) for the first two tournament games. “For us, it’s a visibility thing, and it really helps get women’s basketball out there’

UMaine’s attendance does not appear to have suffered much in recent games. The Bears attracted 5,143 fans to its Feb. 11 game against Towson State and 4,669 atttended the Jan. 20 contest against New Hampshire, both of which were broadcast by MBS.

In addition to the Maine audience, the games will be available in parts of New Hampshire, northern Massachusetts and Canada’s Maritime Provinces.

University of Maine swimmer Susie Herrick made a huge splash during last weekend’s North Atlantic Conference championships held at the University of Delaware.

Herrick, a freshman from Wenham, Mass., won three individual events, including a record-setting performance in the 400-yard individual medley. Herrick swam the IM in 4 minutes, 31.97 seconds, breaking the NAC mark of 4:34.44 set last year by Laura Calderone of the University of New Hampshire and the school record of 4:38.32 owned by UMaine Sports Hall of Fame member Julie Woodcock.

Herrick also won the 200 butterfly in 2:07.93, bettering her own school record set earlier in the month. In winning the 200 IM with a 2:09.31 clocking, Herrick eclipsed the previous UMaine record of 2:09.42 set by Whitney Leeman in 1984.

Behind Herrick, who also competed on Maine’s third-place 200 medley relay squad, the Black Bears finished sixth in the team competition.

Next up is the ECAC Championship, Feb. 29-March 2 in Sewall, N.J.

Joe Moody and Dereck Treadwell of UMaine established school records while competing in last Saturday’s North Atlantic Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships in Boston.

Moody, a freshman from Liberty, won the 500 meters in 1:04.34 en route to All-NAC honors. Treadwell, a junior from Old Town, set the UMaine mark with a 4:07.87 clocking in the mile. He finished second by one 1,000th of a second.

Both runners will compete in the New England Championships Friday and Saturday in Boston.