Bears earn exhibition triumph Ernest, Maine pound Slovak Republic team

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ORONO – The University of Maine women’s basketball team is faster, bigger and deeper than in recent years.

The Black Bears put those qualities to good use Wednesday night during their exhibition opener against Istrobanka Lokomotiva.

Coach Sharon Versyp experimented with numerous lineup combinations and stressed a more fast-paced attack as UMaine rolled to a 91-54 victory over the overmatched club team from the Slovak Republic.

Istrobanka Lokomotiva, among the weakest foreign teams to visit Alfond Arena in recent years, didn’t generate much consistent offense against the Black Bears’ intense defense until the contest was well in hand.

“I platooned people in and out,” Versyp said. “It was hard probably for the kids to really get a rhythm, but I needed to see how they would respond. We did OK.”

Most UMaine players, including four freshmen, gained valuable experience under game conditions as they prepared for the Nov. 22 season opener at Dartmouth.

“It’s nice to play with everybody and kind of get a feel for each and every person,” said UMaine junior forward Heather Ernest of Temple, who led UMaine with 20 points, eight rebounds and four steals.

“You just kind of go with the flow,” she added. “Whoever’s in, you adjust to it and do what you can.”

Sophomore guard Missy Traversi contributed 10 points in the Bears’ balanced effort. Julie Veilleux of Augusta added nine points and six rebounds and Kim Corbitt netted nine points, while Abby Schrader chipped in with eight points and seven rebounds and Monica Peterson eight points and five rebounds.

UMaine used a lot of personnel combinations on the floor as Versyp put her squad to the test. Each of the 12 players saw at least 10 minutes of action.

“Coach’s philosophy is different this year,” Traversi said. “She’s throwing in more people at different times and it’s great because we want to be quick, we want to be fast.”

The Bears tried to take advantage of their open-court attack whenever possible, sparked by Corbitt and Traversi.

UMaine outrebounded Istrobanka 55-30, led by Nicole Jay’s nine rebounds. The Bears were tested by the physical style of the Slovak team.

The hosts played man-to-man most of the time, but threw in some occasional zone and full-court pressure. The Bears limited Istrobanka to 7-for-23 (30 percent) first-half shooting.

Istrobanka didn’t get a lot of open looks at the basket against UMaine’s pressuring defense until they trailed by 30 points in the second half. The Slovaks committed 31 turnovers.

Zuzana Kozacikova led Istrobanka with a game-high 23 points on 11-for-15 shooting. She was 7-for-8 in the second half. Timea Szijartova added nine points.

UMaine was disjointed at times on the offensive end, but was successful at times running its halfcourt sets. The hosts shot 52 percent (17-for-33) from the floor in the first half.

The Bears were without the services of senior guard Pam Cruz, who is rehabilitating a knee injury, and freshman forward Katie Whittier of New Gloucester, who at present has been classified as a partial qualifier by the NCAA and is not yet eligible to play in games.

BLACK BEARS 91, ISTROBANKA 54

Istrobanka Lokomotiva Maine

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG F AF TP

Hrabakova 1 3 0 0 2 Heon 3 4 6

L.Borcinova 1 4 1 3 3 Jay 2 8 6

S.Borcinova 1 5 3 4 5 Corbitt 4 6 9

Kozacikova 11 15 1 2 23 Veilleux 4 15 1 2 9

Szijartova 4 11 0 0 9 Schrader 4 10 0 0 8

Kromarova 0 1 0 0 0 Traversi 4 10

Jesenakova 0 1 0 0 0 Ernest 6 11 20

Majkrakova 0 3 2 2 2 Hickman 1 2 3

Padrtova 1 2 0 0 3 Geraghty 2 8

Vynuchalova 2 7 3 5 7 Gay 2 3 4

Quacknbsh 0 1 0

Peterson 4 10 8

Totals 21 52 10 16 54 36 79 14 23 91

Istrobanka Lokomotiva 21 54

Maine 43 91

3-pt. goals: Istrobanka (2-10): Padrtova 1-2, Szijartova 1-3, S. Borcinova 0-1, Kozacikova 0-1, Jesenakova 0-1, L. Borcinova 0-2; Maine (5-10): Geraghty 2-2, Traversi 2-3, Hickman 1-1, Corbitt 0-1, Veilleux 0-1, Ernest 0-1, Quackenbush 0-1

Attendance: 1,445