UM reserve leaves team> Macream’s last practice was Friday

Chantal Macream, a reserve guard on the UMaine women’s basketball team, apparently has left the squad.

Maine coach Joanne Palombo-McCallie said the 5-foot-6 guard from Pierrefords, Quebec, has not attended practice since being told Friday that she would not be on the travel squad for last Saturday’s game against Boston University at Augusta.

Macream, who was informed of the decision by one of the assistant coaches, hasn’t been heard from since.

“She did not respond well to that information,” Palombo said Tuesday evening. “She has skipped two practices and has not communicated with any member of the staff. It’s kind of a sad situation.”

Macream, who could not be reached for comment, had played in 41 games during her first two seasons in Orono, averaging 5.3 minutes per game.

She scored 27 points and grabbed 24 rebounds overall, but she had not appeared in any of the Bears’ six games this season.

“It’s certainly nothing personal, but you’ve got to be objective,” said Palombo, who trimmed the travel squad to 13 players by leaving off Macream and injured forward Andrea Pardilla of Old Town.

“Usually, we do [hold out] a post and a guard,” Palombo said. “It’s one of those things where a player has to earn that right to travel because it’s such a large group.”

Macream was among eight guards on the roster and was the only one who had not played.

UMaine’s Clark to miss two weeks

UMaine forward Katie Clark, who suffers from a chronic foot ailment, is expected to sit out the next two weeks to rest up for the Bears’ trip to the University of Florida tournament at the end of the month.

Clark, a senior from Bangor, has been experiencing a lot of pain in the foot, which had forced her to miss the last 19 games of the 1997-98 season and the first 15 games last season.

“Her foot’s really sore and it’s better to take advantage and really use the Christmas break to rest it,” Palombo said.

Freshman forward Christy Grover of Bucksport remains sidelined with an injury to her shoulder that has kept her out of action since Dec. 3.

On a more positive note, junior forward Martina Tinklova is expected to be available, at least in a limited capacity, for Thursday night’s game against Northwestern at Alfond Arena in Orono.

Tinklova played four minutes Saturday against Boston University and appears to be rounding back into shape during practice.

Bates’ Amanda Colby honored

Amanda Colby of Bates College in Lewiston has added to her list of accolades from the recently completed fall volleyball season.

Colby, a senior middle hitter from Willimantic, Conn., has been named to the GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-America second team in the college division.

Colby, an All-District I first-team selection last month, boasts a 3.67 grade point average in biochemstry. She previously had been recognized as a member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America Team after leading the New England Small College Athletic Conference with 4.5 kills per game.