Cindy Blodgett hasn’t spent much time in her 21st-floor downtown apartment since arriving in Cleveland earlier this month.

The former University of Maine basketball star has toiled for up to six hours per day during two weeks of double sessions as she battles for a spot in the lineup of the WNBA’s Cleveland Rockers.

Blodgett gets her first chance to prove herself in Tuesday’s 8:30 p.m. exhibition game at Houston.

It’s been all work, and play – all basketball – for Blodgett since she arrived in Cleveland.

“We haven’t had a ton of time to really look around because we just finished double sessions,” said Blodgett, who lives by herself.

Projected as a shooting guard when taken sixth overall by the Rockers in last month’s WNBA draft, Blodgett has quickly returned to point guard. Her focus shifted last week when Rockers point guard Jenny Boucek retired because of a torn hamstring.

Cleveland Rockers coach Linda Hill-MacDonald has discovered Blodgett is not only a prolific scorer, but a heady point guard. She almost seems surprised at the level of Blodgett’s floor generalship after observing her during the Rockers’ preseason camp.

“Cindy has seen more playing time at point guard than we had anticipated, but that’s good for her,” Hill-MacDonald said. “I think it really broadens her understanding of what our offenses and defenses are.”

Blodgett simply wants to play.

“I’m really trying to pick up everything and trying to limit the mistakes,” Blodgett said after Thursday’s practice. “I really just want to play, so whatever position I play doesn’t matter.”

Blodgett has tough competition at point guard in two-time Olympian Suzie McConnell Serio, a 31-year-old mother of four. The former All-American at Penn State is the NCAA’s all-time assists leader with 1,307.

“She’s had a lot of experience and I’m going to try to get as much as I can from her and continue to play my game,” Blodgett said.

With McConnell Serio at point guard and veteran Michelle Edwards starting at the two spot, Blodgett faces a challenge to earn playing time.

“You’re playing against some really good players and the level of intensity is up for the entire time,” Blodgett said.

Hill-MacDonald has high expectations for Blodgett.

“Cindy is a very capable player,” she said. “I don’t know how much she’ll play. She’s playing with some very experienced players. The thing that we’ve been so pleased about is how quickly she’s adapting to this level. She’s fitting right in.”

Offensively, Cleveland looks to its formidable frontcourt, which includes All-WNBA first-team forward Eva Nemcova of the Czech Republic and Isabelle Fijalkowski of France, the European Player of the Year. The offensive philosophy is one familiar to Blodgett.

“It’s the triple-post offense like what the Chicago Bulls run,” Blodgett said. “There’a lot of creativity allowed in it.”

Adjusting to the physical play and increased speed of the WNBA game are the biggest challenges most college graduates face making the transition to pro ball. Hill-MacDonald is confident Blodgett can handle those changes.

“The physical play is different than college, but she’s had no problems with it,” Hill-MacDonald said. “She’s adjusted really well.”

For Blodgett, the toughest transition has been living so far from home, and it’s only been 19 days.

“It’s not so much the basketball, but being away and being out of touch with people that you see regularly,” said Blodgett, who dreads the arrival of her phone bill.

Defensively, Blodgett has been impressive.

“The thing we had heard about Cindy is she came from a team that always played zone,” Hill-MacDonald said of UMaine’s matchup zone. “Somewhere in her experience she has played some player-to-player defense, because she knows the concepts very well. Her defense looks good.”

Blodgett complimented the coaching staff, including assistants Susan Yow and Mike Wilhelm, with helping her.

“They’re very good at breaking things down, very good teachers of the game,” Blodgett said.

Blodgett is unsure how she’ll fit into Cleveland’s plans once the regular season begins June 11.

“I know that regardless, I’ll be ready when called upon,” she said. “Hopefully, I can contribute right away and have a fun and successful season.”

Hill-MacDonald added a vote of confidence for her top draft pick.

“I think the people in Maine will be very proud of their girl Cindy,” she said.