Versyp’s Bears try new tactic More shots the goal

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University of Maine women’s basketball coach Sharon Versyp tried a bit of a different approach during Sunday’s America East game at New Hampshire.

In the hope of cutting down on turnovers, a facet of the game which has plagued the Black Bears all season (24 per game), Versyp tweaked the offense a bit. UMaine tried to cut down on long half-court possessions and shoot more quickly and more often.

“[One thing] that we committed to going into [the UNH] game was getting more shots, so we’d have less turnovers… and that actually happened,” Versyp said. “Usually, we’ve been only averaging like 56 shots a game because we’ve turned the ball over 24 to 30 times.”

The Bears got off plenty of shots, a season-high 77, but suffered through one of their poorest shooting games of the season (31.2 percent) against the Wildcats. Still, Versyp was encouraged.

“The outcome would have been different even if we shot maybe 38 percent,” Versyp said. “And we had some good looks at the basket.”

UMaine also was able to follow through on another key portion of its game plan connected to increasing the number of field-goal attempts. The Bears crashed the boards hard, outrebounding UNH 55-44 while pulling down 27 on the offensive end, leading to numerous second shots.

Freshman forward-turned-center Heather Ernest of Temple led the way, grabbing 10 offensive rebounds among her game-high 21 boards. That complemented a 21-point performance which placed Ernest in select company..

“That’s phenomenal, just talking about her play,” Versyp said of the relentless Ernest, who leads the team averaging 12.7 points and 9.9 rebounds per contest.

According to UMaine athletic media relations manager Pete Lefresne, Ernest’s effort marked the first time a UMaine women’s player had recorded 20 points and 20 rebounds in a single game since Farmindale native Rachel Bouchard accomplished the feat against Hartford on Feb. 4, 1989.

Prior to Sunday, no Black Bear had grabbed 20 rebounds in a game since Bouchard snatched 21 against Rhode Island on Dec. 1, 1990.

Ernest said UMaine had ample opportunities to score and potentially come away with a victory.

“We crashed the boards hard and didn’t make some of the easy put-backs, so that doesn’t help any,” Ernest said. “I think the shooting will improve. Everybody has nights like [the game at New Hampshire].”

The Bears are preparing for Thursday’s 7:30 p.m. home game against an improved, high-scoring Drexel team.

Hockey Bears hibernating

The last thing a team on a roll wants is an idle weekend.

But the University of Maine’s Black Bears, 4-1-2 in their last seven games, will try to make the most of their final week off.

Maine won’t play again until it visits league leader Boston College on Jan. 26-27. The Bears will return to the practice ice on Sunday.

Since school won’t be back in session until next week, several players have gone home.

“I told them to skate and lift but I also wanted them to take two or three days off from the rink,” said Maine coach Shawn Walsh, who is resting in New Orleans.

“From a hockey standpoint, we probably want to be playing this weekend. But this break will help us in March. You need this to be a little sharper then. The body needs rest and the players get a mental break,” added Walsh. “It might hurt us short-term but it will help us long-term.”

He also said it saves the athletic department money because school isn’t in session so the players don’t have to stay in Orono.

Another positive is it gives injured players more time to heal, according to Walsh.

Sophomore center Chris Heisten and junior defensemen Peter Metcalf had missed six and eight games, respectively, with sprained knee ligaments before returning recently and both will get to rest their knees.

Walsh also reported that freshman winger Brendan Donovan, who has missed 13 of the last 14 games with a lacerated kidney, has been told he can start skating this week.

“His MRI [examination] was clean so if he doesn’t have any blood in his urine next week, he’ll play against BC,” said Walsh. “He might be the missing link for our top line.”

Walsh hasn’t been able to find a left winger who complements sophomore center Marty Kariya and senior right wing Matthias Trattnig.

“That has been a problem for us all year,” said Walsh.

Junior defenseman and co-captain Doug Janik and sophomore right wing Tommy Reimann said the return of Metcalf and Heisten to the lineup has helped significantly.

“Peter has really solidified our defense and Chris has given us some offensive jump,” said Janik. “Not having them really hurt us. They make us a better team.”

Reimann said, “They’ve helped tremendously. Chris was our leading point-getter when he got hurt and Peter competes his tail off. He’s our most competitive player.”

Janik and Reimann feel the team is playing some of its best hockey now, particularly defensively.

“We’ve stepped it up defensively the last few games,” said Janik, whose Bears have given up only 13 goals in the 4-2-1 streak. “We’re getting better every week. We’re maturing. If we can put three or four goals on the board, that’ll give us a chance to win every game.

”’We have high expectations for ourselves and we’re starting to get things rolling. More guys are getting healthy and we’re developing more confidence. Hopefully, it’ll pay off in the coming months,” added Janik.

Reimann said, “We’re thinking defense first and our offensive chances come off our defense. Our lines are starting to jell. Coach [Walsh] has put some lines together that are working and hopefully he’ll keep them together for BC.”