The University of Maine women’s basketball team gets its first crack at outside competition during tonight’s 7:30 exhibition game against Galatasary Club of Istanbul, Turkey, at Alfond Arena.

Coach Sharon Versyp will get her first look at the ballclub under game conditions and see what progress the team has made thus far during preseason.

Versyp is particularly interested in evaluating UMaine’s defense, which will be based in man-to-man but will feature a more pressure-oriented system that takes advantage of the team’s improved quickness and guard depth.

“It will really give our staff a good evaluation on where our defense is at right now,” Versyp said. “We’ll really to be able to take a look at our defensive strengths and weaknesses.”

Versyp also is interested to see how well the players implement and execute her offensive philosophy, especially with the influx of talented newcomers.

“They’re just ready to play against somebody else,” Versyp said.

UMaine will play tonight’s game minus three players.

Freshman shooting guard Kelly Manning twisted her leg in practice Wednesday and is expected to be out a week or so. Junior forward Anna James has been bothered by an undisclosed illness that has left her unable to practice regularly since returning to school in August. She could miss up to two months.

Sophomore guard Pam Cruz is recovering from a second surgery on her bothersome knee. She is working toward a possible Thanksgiving return to action.

“We have 10 healthy kids,” Versyp said. “Our kids are probably in the best shape ever.”

Maine natives will redshirt

Bangor’s Derek Damon and Scarborough’s Landon Bathe will redshirt for the University of Maine’s hockey team this season.

Both are forwards and they will practice with the team throughout the season but can’t play in games.

Damon played at Bangor’s John Bapst High School for two seasons before spending two more at St. Dominic of Lewiston and two with the Exeter Snow Devils of the Eastern Junior Hockey League.

Bathe played his high school hockey at Cheverus of Portland before joining the Danville Wings of the North American Junior Hockey League. Bathe is the son of former NHL and Maine Mariner [now Pirates] defenseman Frank Bathe.

Damon, according to Maine interim head coach Tim Whitehead, wouldn’t have been able to play this season because he is only a partial qualifier academically. That means he can practice with the team but can’t play in games.

“Derek is a pretty good prospect. He’s pretty tough, he can skate and he can shoot the puck. He has a pretty heavy shot. He has some good potential. He’ll learn the defensive part of game at practice,” said Whitehead. “He will be eligible next year if he has two successful semesters academically.

“Landon is physical and tough. When he hits you, he really knocks you on your rear end. He needs to improve his skill level and his skating. If he does that, he can be a physical presence for us,” said Whitehead.

“Both players provide elements that could help us next year,” added Whitehead.

Goalie Frank Doyle will also redshirt. He is required to do so because he dressed for five Major Junior A games for Sarnia of the Ontario Hockey League when he was 17 and because he transferred to Maine from the University of Guelph.

The Guelph native was an all-star in the Midwest Junior B League in Ontario last season for the Cambridge Winterhawks.

He could be the heir apparent to seniors Matt Yeats and Mike Morrison but won’t be eligible for as many as five games due to his Major Junior experience.

“He will have two years of eligibility for us,” said Whitehead who has a “couple of guys lined up on-campus” to back up Yeats or Morrision if one of them gets hurt this season.

UM’s Brady, Johnstone honored

Senior Morgan Brady and junior Jen Johnstone of the University of Maine field hockey team have been named to the All-America East first team.

Brady, a back, is a top defensive player for the Bears and has two goals and 15 assists. She is pursuing her master’s degree at Maine and played three seasons at Boston College before attending Maine.

Johnstone ranks third in America East scoring with 10 goals and five assists for 25 points.

Bates names new ski coach

Bates College has named St. Michael’s College director of skiing Rogan Connell as its new head coach of Alpine skiing. Connell has been director of skiing at St. Michael’s (Vt.) since 1999 and led the team to a top-20 finish at the NCAA championships in 2001.