Help is on the way for the Husson College women’s basketball team, which suffered considerable and unexpected personnel losses prior to this season.

Coach Kissy Walker expects to welcome University of Maine transfers Kelly Dow and Erin Weston for the second semester beginning in January.

Dow was a walk-on at UMaine last season, but was sidelined by a foot injury. The talented 5-foot-7 guard was a standout at Foxcroft Academy, where she became its first female 1,000-point scorer.

Dow, who plans to study nursing at Husson, earned NEWS All-Maine third-team recognition as a senior in 1997. Her arrival could create a bit of confusion for the Braves as Husson already has a Kelly Dow on the roster. Her namesake is a 6-1 junior forward from Calais.

Weston starred at Penquis High in Milo, where she became the school’s second female 1,000-point scorer before graduating last June.

The 5-9 swing player was a three-time Eastern Maine All-Tournament Team pick.

Husson opened the season with only 10 players after three returnees opted to concentrate on academics, while another left school and a potential walk-on decided not to play. The addition of Weston and Dow won’t solve the Braves’ lack of height and experience in the frontcourt, but they should provide more depth on a guard-loaded team that wants to press and run.

The University of Maine isn’t the only America East women’s basketball team dealing with significant injuries this preseason.

Defending league regular-season champion Vermont is without the services of preseason All-American and 1998 America East Player of the Year Karalyn Church and sharpshooting sophomore guard Holly Harris.

Church, who led the Catamounts to the conference regular-season crown last season while averaging 24.6 points and 8.0 rebounds, has been sidelined by a joint problem in her right hip. The 6-foot junior forward is expected to be out indefinitely.

Harris, who played at UVM two years ago, then transferred to Holy Cross last year only to return to Vermont, has knee problems. The 5-9 shooting guard underwent arthroscopic surgery on both knees Nov. 3 and is expected to be out of action two to six weeks.

The Catamounts, who were picked by league coaches as the preseason favorite to win the America East title, eked out a 73-71 overtime win over Rhode Island in Sunday’s season opener.

The UMaine women likely will go into Friday’s season opener against Northeastern at Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland minus three potential contributors.

While freshman guard Ellen Geraghty is out until sometime next month with mononucleosis, starting junior guard/forward Kristen McCormick has been slow recovering from a sprained right ankle sustained on Nov. 7.

Freshman Eva Moldre is undergoing rehabilitation after injuring her knee three weeks ago. On the positive side, it has been determined the 6-3 center does not have a ligament tear.

Kaleem Clarkson of Worcester State College played a key role Saturday as the Lancers posted a 24-13 New England Football Conference victory over Westfield State.

Clarkson, a former standout at Bangor High School, set a New England Division III record in the contest when he returned a fumble 97 yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown.

The 5-foot-10, 220-pound defensive end sparked the Worcester State defense, registering seven tackles, a sack, and another fumble recovery. Clarkson’s efforts earned him recognition as the NEFC and the ECAC Division III Defensive Player of the Week.

Clarkson is the older brother of Bangor High Fitzpatrick Trophy candidate Hampton Clarkson, a star tailback and linebacker for coach Gabby Price’s Rams.

Senior Darrick Brown is unquestionably a talented kick returner for UMaine, but the Black Bear football team has set some inauspicious records for returns this season.

In Saturday’s 55-34 loss at Massachusetts, Brown established a school single-game record with 709 kickoff return yards. That boosted his season total to a record 28.

The Bears also have established a new season standard with 1,008 kickoff return yards.