Blodgett garners academic award

The University of Maine’s Cindy Blodgett has earned awards on the hardwood for four years, but the latest honor notes her work in the classroom as well.

The 5-foot-9 senior guard from Clinton has been named to the GTE Academic All-America women’s basketball team, which was selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

Five women – including Blodgett – were named to the University Division first team, and five more earned College Division first-team honors.

To be eligible for the GTE Academic All-America teams, players must be a varsity starter or key reserve and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20 on a 4.0 scale.

Blodgett has compiled a 3.32 GPA in education.

Joining Blodgett on the team are Lisa Davies of Southwest Missouri (4.00 GPA with a major in communication science disorders), Mary Klima of American (3.91 GPA, finance/law & society), Myndee Larsen of Southern Utah (3.87 GPA, communications), and Katrina Price of Stephen F. Austin (3.58 GPA, kinesiology).

Davies was named Academic All-American of the Year.

While Harvard’s Allison Feaster ended Blodgett’s two-year run as the nation’s top scorer, the UMaine star will have a chance to exact a little revenge on March 26.

Feaster and Blodgett are among the athletes who will compete when Intersport Television presents the 10th annual College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Shooting Championships.

Also in the field are Julie Krommenhoek of Utah, Jenny Higgins of Villanova and Marlene Stollings of Ohio.

The competition, which includes men’s 3-point and slam dunk contests, takes place at Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio in conjunction with the men’s basketball Final Four.

The contests will be broadcast on ESPN on a tape-delay basis from 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. that night. Dick Vitale and Brad Nessler will provide the commentary.

During one stretch in the second half of the season, the University of Maine men’s hockey team had allowed an uncharacteristic 13 power-play goals in 48 chances.

However, since that time, Maine has surrendered only five power-play goals in the last 42 opportunities, which could loom as a real key in its attempt to win the Hockey East tournament title.

“We’ve really improved our penalty killing,” said Maine coach Shawn Walsh. “You’ve got to give credit to [goalie Alfie Michaud] and we’ve changed our system. We’ve adopted the system used by the New Jersey Devils. We’ve been smarter as to when we pressure instead of pressuring all the time. And our defensemen have done a better job clearing the puck.”

Senior right wing and tri-captain Shawn Wansborough said there were a lot of new guys killing penalties at the beginning of the year and they have experience now.

He said they know what to expect from opposing power plays because the scouting has been better lately and the players are working a lot harder on it because it’s playoff time.

“We’ve been making quicker decisions [on the ice],” added Wansborough.

Sophomore right wing Cory Larose said they have had consistent partners up front on the penalty kill for several weeks and that has been helpful.

“Chemistry is important,” said Larose. “We have four or five pairs who can do the job and everybody knows what they’re doing out there.”