Christy Grover of Bucksport, the starting center for the University of Maine women’s basketball team, has left the squad for personal reasons.

The UMaine athletic media relations office made the announcement Wednesday afternoon in a press release, but did not provide any details about Grover’s decision.

“Christy has left the team, of her own accord, for medical reasons,” Black Bears coach Sharon Versyp said in a statement faxed to the media from Virginia, where UMaine is preparing for tonight’s first-round game against Marshall in the Lady Luck Classic at Virginia Tech.

Grover did not return calls made to her Bucksport home Wednesday evening.

UMaine athletics spokesman Pete Lefresne said Wednesday Grover did not attend the Bears’ practice Christmas night and did not accompany the team Tuesday on the trip to Virginia.

Mike Archer, who coached Grover for four years at Bucksport High School, said he was shocked to hear the news of Grover’s departure and did not know why she decided to leave the team.Grover, a 6-foot-3 center, was among UMaine’s most promising young players this season. After seeing limited action as a freshman, Grover averaged 8.8 points and 5.3 rebounds while logging 23.9 minutes per game in nine contests under coach Versyp.

While she recently had a bout with the flu, Grover had not been visibly affected by any injuries this season. During 1999-2000, she was sidelined by a shoulder injury suffered in practice.

Grover ranked second on the team this season with an .846 free throw percentage, but had been plagued by frequent foul trouble.

At Bucksport, Grover was a two-time selection to the NEWS’ All-Maine Schoolgirl Basketball Team before committing to UMaine prior to the start of her senior season with the Bucks.

It is not known whether Grover will relinquish her athletic scholarship as a result of her decision. It also is unclear whether she intends to continue her studies at UMaine.