The University of Maine women’s basketball team, still stinging from Sunday’s announcement it had not been selected for the NCAA Tournament, began to refocus Monday on its next mission.

Coach Sharon Versyp’s 25-5 Black Bears have begun preparations for Thursday’s 7 p.m. Women’s National Invitation Tournament game against 21-8 Creighton at Alfond Arena in Orono.

Versyp met with the team for an hour Monday morning to help the players get focused on their next challenge. UMaine also went through some light work at Memorial Gym, including a defensive walk-through and shooting foul shots.

UMaine’s third-year coach said it has taken some time for the team to shake the disappointment of coming up short in its quest for the America East title and an NCAA berth.

“It is heart-wrenching and very tough,” Versyp said. “[Monday] was just getting them refocused and energized a little bit. I wanted them to realize how important this tournament is, that we’ve got another season and we’re hosting.”

UMaine is among only 96 women’s teams still playing ball this week. Versyp told her players it is a privilege to have been chosen for the WNIT and that performing well is important for many reasons.

She reminded them there were other deserving teams, some that had higher power rankings than UMaine, that didn’t fit into the plans of the NCAA selection committee.

Junior Heather Ernest of Temple said the Bears plan to make the best of their WNIT bid.

“This is an opportunity for us to prove that we should have been one of the 64 [NCAA] teams,” Ernest said. “It will be nice to play teams of that caliber, teams that are in the same shoes as us and could have gone, but didn’t.”

Versyp said this year’s WNIT has been described as the toughest ever. Ten of the 32 participants posted at least 20 victories this season.

And though UMaine played some outstanding teams this season, Creighton and other potential WNIT opponents make up a formidable field.

“These teams probably are the toughest teams we’ve played all year,” Versyp said. “Our kids need to get back their enthusiasm and rejuvenate themselves.”

While winning Thursday’s game is the immediate goal for the Bears, they are hoping to use the WNIT as a springboard into next season.

“We really need to be focused and take the WNIT seriously, because that’ll prepare our team [for the future],” said senior captain Ellen Geraghty.

“I think our team definitely has Top 25 potential for next year and I obviously want to see them go there, and I know that they do, too,” she added.

Bears to make Alfond curtain call

There aren’t too many NCAA women’s basketball teams that have the opportunity to host a postseason game, but UMaine will do just that against Creighton Thursday.

The Bears will perform at least one encore, as UMaine has successfully bid to host the game. The WNIT’s minimum financial guarantee is $6,000 for each of the first two rounds.

UMaine interim athletic director Paul Bubb said if the Bears win, the possibility of having a second-round game on Monday revolves around not only the bid amount, but the quality of the basketball atmosphere and exposure the first-round game receives.

“We really need to have a strong showing, not only to cover the guarantee but to show that this is a great place for basketball,” Bubb said.

UMaine is hoping for a great turnout Thursday to propel it into WNIT play.

Tickets for Thursday’s game go on sale today at the UMaine athletic ticket office at Alfond Arena from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $12 for reserved seats in the lower sideline sections and $10 for adult general admission.

Youth general admission tickets are $6, while UMaine students with an ID pay $5. UMaine also is offering a “WNIT Family Pack” for $25, which includes two adult and two youth general admission tickets, a savings of $7.

For more information, call 581-2327 or 1-800-756-8326.