The University of Maine women’s basketball team rang in the New Year with a toast of sparkling apple cider and potato chips while riding on a Cyr bus on its way back from Virginia Tech’s Lady Luck Classic.

Coach Sharon Versyp and the Black Bears were scheduled to be back early Sunday morning. However, the team was unable to land in Portland because of the snowstorm and instead flew all the way back to Philadelphia and spent an additional night in a hotel – without its luggage.

The UMaine contingent didn’t arrive back in Orono until 1:25 a.m. Monday.

“It was fascinating,” Versyp said. “We got to spend some quality time with each other.”

UMaine athletic media relations spokesman Pete Lefresne, who traveled with the team, said the saving grace was someone had thoughtfully shoveled out and cleared the snow off the cars of the players and coaches who had left their vehicles on campus.

Since their arrival, the Bears have been hard at work preparing for the 2001 portion of the season. Versyp put the team through double sessions Monday and Tuesday, and plans to do the same again on Thursday after some weightlifting and light shooting today.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for the kids,” Versyp said. “All they have to focus on right now is basketball. We can do individual workouts, do whatever we can to fine-tune their skills.”

Versyp said she is taking advantage of the semester break by implementing some new offensive sets and defensive schemes while trying to improve upon the team’s overall progress.

UMaine entertains America East rival Vermont Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Bears looking ahead

The first-year coach was encouraged by the Bears’ performance in Virginia, which included a convincing come-from-behind win over Marshall and a solid performance in a loss to tourney host Virginia Tech, and the level of teamwork and camaraderie that continues to develop among the players.

“Things are phenomenal,” Versyp said. “The kids are finally playing like they’re capable. We’ve got to bottle this up and keep performing.”

UMaine has been forced to make further adjustments since starting center Christy Grover of Bucksport abruptly announced her departure from the team on Christmas Day with little explanation. In a subsequent interview with WZON radio, she cited nagging injuries to her foot and shoulder as leading to her decision.

Versyp, who attempted to reach Grover but has not spoken with her, isn’t clear about the details surrounding her departure from the team. The phone at Grover’s Old Town apartment has recently been disconnected.

The Bears don’t appear to be dwelling on the situation.

“Our kids are moving on,” Versyp said. “They have been very focused and I think this is very promising for the upcoming conference schedule.”

Geraghty set to return

UMaine received some good news Tuesday when Ellen Geraghty was cleared by her doctor to return to action.

The sophomore point guard from Winsted, Conn., has been sidelined for the last three weeks with a stress fracture in her left foot. She hasn’t played since the Bears’ Dec. 10 loss to Delaware.

Geraghty ranks third on the team with 9.8 points per game and is shooting 94 percent (31-for-33) from the foul line, which ranks seventh in the nation. She, along with junior co-captain Tracy Guerrette of St. Agatha and Julie Veilleux of Augusta, have shared the point guard chores this season.

“We’ve got to get [Geraghty] gradually implemented again,” Versyp said. “I don’t know how much she’ll play [Friday] against Vermont or in the next game.”

Geraghty was averaging 25.5 minutes per game before being forced to sit out.

UMaine football players honored

University of Maine football players Chad Hayes, Dwayne Wilmot, and Todd Jagoutz have received honorable mention for the Division I-AA All-America Teams selected by Don Hansen’s National Weekly Football Gazette.

Wilmot finished among UMaine’s all-time leaders for receptions and receiving yards after making a team- and league-leading 67 catches for 955 yards and eight touchdowns.

Hayes, a junior from Old Town, was a standout blocker and caught 15 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown in eight games. Jagoutz, who also handled place-kicking chores for the Bears, averaged 41.0 yards per punt last season.

EM Tech hits break on high note

The Golden Eagles of Eastern Maine Technical College in Bangor have reached the semester break with a .500 record, a national ranking, and several players near the top of the national statistical lists according to coach Ron Brown.

Eastern Maine Tech is 6-6 and ranks fifth in the latest National Small College Athletic Association poll.

In addition, third-year student Nick Wiberg of Stonington is the nation’s top rebounder, pulling down an average of 15.1 boards per game. The 6-foot-3 Wiberg is also seventh in scoring, with a 16.8 ppg average.

Teammate Brad Galley of Campobello, New Brunswick, also ranks among the nation’s top scorers and rebounders. The second-year student is 10th with a 15.1 scoring average and 11th in rebounding with 5.7 per game.

First-year student Jeff Kimball is averaging 3.4 assists per game and is sixth on the list of national leaders.

The Golden Eagles return to action Jan. 12 when they hit the road to face New Brunswick Community College-Saint John.

Gray sets mark at Colby-Sawyer

Former Hermon High School standout Chris Gray is making his presence known in his first year at Colby-Sawyer College.

The 6-foot-8 freshman, who helped the Hawks to an Eastern Maine Class B title last year, has already established a school record with seven blocked shots in a game.

Gray also scored 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds in that game to help the Chargers of New London, N.H., to a 97-92 overtime victory over Plymouth State.