ORONO – With one game left in the regular season, the University of Maine women’s basketball team has its sights set on the No. 2 seed for the America East Tournament, which begins March 7 at the University of Hartford’s Chase Arena.

Coach Sharon Versyp’s 16-10 Black Bears already have four more wins than last season. With a victory in Saturday’s regular-season finale against Hartford in Orono, UMaine can clinch second place.

The Bears are 9-6 in conference play, having won five of their last six games. It’s a trend Versyp hopes will continue.

“It helps your momentum going into America East,” Versyp said of the recent success, which included Sunday’s gritty 67-64 victory over Boston University.

UMaine played its last six games during a 15-day stretch. Three of them were on the road.

“Our kids have worked hard,” Versyp said. “They’ve been on the run and they’re pretty drained, so I think this only helps you emotionally when you’re very high.”

The Bears have beaten seven of their eight league opponents at least once, with league-leading Vermont the exception. Regardless of Saturday’s outcome, UMaine is confident it can challenge for the America East title.

“It’s nice to know that you can beat everybody in the league,” Versyp said, explaining the Bears’ one-point home loss to Vermont could have gone in their favor.

“Vermont is playing the best, they are really clicking, but any given day anything can happen and it’s at Hartford; it’s not at Vermont,” she added.

Heading into the final week of the regular season, the teams occupying the Nos. 2 through 7 positions are separated by only one game in the loss column. Should Hartford beat UMaine Saturday, the Bears could slip significantly depending upon the other results.

“I think we’re playing good basketball. I know we can play better,” said sophomore Heather Ernest of Temple. “We have [nine days] to work on that before the tournament. We all know what we need to do and coach is going to help us along in that department.”

Southern Maine back in NCAAs

The University of Southern Maine, by virtue of winning its sixth consecutive Little East Conference championship last weekend, is back in the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament.

Coach Gary Fifield’s Huskies take a sparkling 25-2 record into Wednesday’s 7 p.m. Northeast Regional game against Emmanuel (26-2) at Hill Gymnasium in Gorham.

Southern Maine clinched one of 36 NCAA automatic qualifier spots with Saturday’s 73-61 victory over Eastern Connecticut in the LEC title contest held at Gorham.

USM features six players with eastern Maine ties, including sophomore standout Meg Cressler of Appleton. The former Camden-Rockport High star is the team’s leading scorer with 13.7 points per game.

Cressler was named the Most Outstanding Player of the LEC Tournament last weekend after scoring a career-high 24 points against Eastern Connecticut. She also ranks third on the squad in assists and steals.

Former Bangor High standout Kara Crockett has been a force inside for the Huskies. The 6-foot junior forward is scoring at an 11.2 ppg clip, second on the team, and her 64 blocked shots rank her first.

Junior swing player Jess Libby of Orono (8.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg) also has dished out 2.4 assists per game, while former George Stevens Academy guard Nikki Allen, a sophomore, has contributed 6.0 points per contest.

The Huskies also receive contributions from freshman Natasha Jackson of Augusta and Orono sophomore Kati Libby.

Eight commit to UMaine soccer

The University of Maine has received commitments from eight men’s soccer recruits for the 2002-2003 school year, including three players from within the state.

Cooper Friend of Ellsworth, and Eric Peterson and Andy Halligan of Falmouth have committed to the Black Bears.

Also expected to play for the Bears next year are Adam Chenault of Maineville, Ohio, Kevin Forgett of Wilmington, Mass., Michael Keighly of Wyoming, Ohio, and Ben Wilcox and Chad Mongeon of Essex Junction, Vt.

All National Letter of Intent signings are contingent upon admission to the University of Maine and compliance with NCAA rules, including registration with the NCAA Clearinghouse.

Friend, a midfielder, was named to the All-Penobscot Valley Conference, All-State, and All-New England squads. He was also a Western New England Prep All-Star while playing for the Berkshire School.

Peterson, an All-Conference and All-State back at Falmouth High School, was named to the Portland Press Herald All-Maine squad.

Though currently a student at the University of Maine, Halligan has committed to his first season of Black Bear soccer next fall. He was a back and midfielder for the University of North Carolina before transferring to Maine. In high school he was named a Western Maine All-Star, and was nominated to the All-State team.