Bowdoin, USM squads boosted by Maine talent

Maine sports fans have known for many years that there is some outstanding basketball played within the state’s borders.

A quick look at the latest Division III national top-25 poll lists two Maine colleges among the best in the nation this season. And they’re receiving tremendous contributions from players who are products of Maine high schools.

Stefanie Pemper has built Bowdoin College in Brunswick into a Division III power in recent years. The Polar Bears are 11-0 after Tuesday’s win at New England Small College Athletic Conference rival Colby College of Waterville and were ranked No. 2 in the most recent D3hoops.com Division III national poll released Monday.

Bowdoin has won 31 consecutive games at Morrell Gymnasium, dating back nearly three years.

Among the catalysts for the Polar Bears is senior guard Lora Trenkle of Surry. She leads the team with 11.3 points per game and is third on the squad with 4.6 rebounds. Trenkle also is averaging a team-best 4.4 assists and 2.0 steals and leads the squad with a sparkling .872 free-throw percentage.

Trenkle is joined on the Bowdoin team by fellow eastern Maine products Erika Nickerson of Benton (7.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg), junior guard Alison Smith of Stockton Springs (6.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg), and sophomore Lauren Withey of Rockport (3.2 ppg, 1.9 rpg).

The team also includes senior Beth Damon of Livermore.

While Bowdoin has come on strong the last three or four years, the University of Southern Maine has been a force in Division III basketball for many years.

Coach Gary Fifield’s Huskies, ranked fifth in the country, are off to an impressive 12-1 start. They, too, are benefiting from the talents of several instate standouts.

Sophomore forward Tiffany Jones of Skowhegan is setting the scoring pace for USM with 14.6 points per game and also is averaging a team-best 2.5 steals while playing nearly 26 minutes per contest. The eastern Maine contingent also includes senior guard Meg Cressler of Appleton (9.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.8 apg) and newcomer Ashley Marble of Topsfield.

Marble, a sophomore guard who starred at Woodland, transferred to USM after playing volleyball at the University of Maine last year. She’s contributing 7.3 points and 5.8 rebounds.

Sophomore guard Katie Frost, who played her high school ball at Calais, is chipping in 4.8 points per outing while freshman guard Lindsey Welch of Newport (1.5 ppg) has played in 10 games.

Other Mainers are sophomore Megan Myles of Turner (9.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg), sophomore guard Donna Cowing of Weeks Mills (6.2 ppg), freshman guard Katie Sibley of Boothbay (6.1 ppg) and sophomore forward Dianna Thiboaudeau of Sanford.

Meanwhile, former Sunrise Conference and Maine Athletic Conference perennial contenders UMaine-Farmington and Husson College of Bangor are setting the pace in the North Atlantic Conference.

Coach Jamie Beaudoin’s Beavers and the Braves of coach Kissy Walker are both 8-2 overall, 5-0 in MAC play.

UMF has been paced by freshman forward Kari Simpson of Wells (11.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg), freshman guard Karen Sirois of Augusta (11.6 ppg) and junior forward Kate LaHaye of Belfast (7.5 ppg).

Husson’s leaders include freshman center Annie McIntosh of New Gloucester (11.0 ppg, 9.7 rpg, .556 FG pct.), freshman guard Crystal Martin of Calais (9.6 ppg, .479 FG pct.) and sophomore guard Hollie Gracie of Frankfort (7.4 ppg).

UMaine to provide shuttle buses

Because of the cold weather expected this weekend, the University of Maine athletic department will be providing free shuttle bus service from the steam plant parking lot on College Avenue to Alfond Arena for the Black Bears’ men’s hockey games against Massachusetts on Friday and Saturday nights.

Buses will make loops from the north end of the steam plant lot to the front doors at Alfond Arena beginning at 5:30 p.m. and continuing until approximately 10:30 each evening.

Tickets are still available for both games. Call 581-2327 for more information.