Bears hoping to learn from thumping by Gators> Three-game road trip next for Maine women

ORONO – The University of Maine women’s basketball team was back hard at work in Memorial Gym Monday afternoon, less than 48 hours after suffering a humbling 87-41 defeat at the hands of Florida in the championship game of the Dead River Company Classic.

The Black Bears (2-1) took Sunday off, but coach Sharon Versyp put her team through its paces Monday during a rigorous practice session at The Pit.

The memory of Saturday’s loss has stuck with the players in different ways.

It was a tough game, but I think it’s a good experience for us, said junior co-captain Tracy Guerrette of St. Agatha. I feel we’re still coming together as a team and we have to utilize everybody’s strengths and work together, learn from it… so it doesn’t happen again.

Junior Lacey Stone expressed disappointment at the Bears’ effort.

It was a very hard loss, Stone said. It was a couple steps back, because we thought we were somewhere and now we have to look back at where we are. We need to try to see where we can improve, what we need to work on.

For freshman forward Heather Ernest of Temple, it was her first look at some serious Division I frontcourt competition.

It was quite a rude awakening for me, Ernest admitted. I had never played [against] girls that quick or tall or beefy. We’re all disappointed that we lost, but I think that everybody on our team thinks we could have competed, or at least given them a game.

While a developing UMaine team hopes to have learned a few lessons from the Florida game, the Bears must focus on improvement as they prepare for a three-game, seven-day road trip.

UMaine departs Orono early Wednesday on its way to Natchitoches, La., where the Bears take on Northwestern State Thursday night. From there, it’s on to Nacogdoches, Texas, for a Saturday night contest against perennial NCAA Tournament entry Stephen F. Austin.

Versyp wants to make sure her team gets refocused.

We have to push ourselves harder in practice and that’s my job, to make sure that happens, Versyp said. The intensity in practice has always been great… Our kids need to stick together when things get tough.

Tournament fosters reunions

Saturday’s Dead River Company Classic championship game against Florida at Alfond Arena helped bring about reunions for two members of the UMaine women’s basketball program.

Black Bears assistant coach Dana Smith was greeted with a hug and handshakes as the Gators’ starters were introduced prior to the contest. Smith is a 1998 graduate of Florida, where her 33 percent 3-point accuracy helped coach Carol Ross’ Gators post a 92-36 record from 1994-98, including a trip to the Elite Eight in 1997 and the Sweet 16 in ’98.

UMaine sophomore Pam Cruz, who is out for the season with a knee injury, was able to chat with former Butler High School teammate Tara Taylor. The pair had plenty to talk about, as the Gators’ freshman guard also will redshirt because of a knee injury.

Colby’s Austin receives honor

Tom Austin, the football coach at Colby College in Waterville, has been selected as the 2000 Division II-III College Coach of the Year by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston.

Austin, who recently completed his 15th season as the White Mules’ head coach, guided Colby to a 7-1 record and a share of the New England Small College Football Conference title this fall.

Austin will receive his award Dec. 6 at College Football Awards Night in Randolph, Mass.

While at Colby, Austin’s teams have compiled a combined record of 54-65-1. The Mules also claimed their 10th Colby-Bates-Bowdoin series crown this fall.

The Ohio native is a 1963 graduate of the University of Maine, where he started at quarterback for the Black Bears. Prior to taking the Colby job, Austin spent 14 years at Bridgton Academy.