Maine believes it can compete with Raiders Black Bears eager for opportunity

MISSOULA, Mont. – Fans of the University of Maine women’s basketball team might expect the Black Bears to be shaking in their sneakers at the prospect of playing 12th-ranked Texas Tech in tonight’s 9 p.m. NCAA Tournament first-round game at Dahlberg Arena.

While coach Sharon Versyp’s team is understandably anxious about making the program’s first NCAA postseason appearance since 2000, there is an air of confidence and calm surrounding the team.

“We think we have a great opportunity ahead of us, a big challenge, and we’re very excited about being here in Montana,” Versyp said. “We just want to go out and play the best that we can.”

The game will be shown live on ESPN2.

UMaine (25-6), the No. 13 seed in the Mideast Regional, goes into the game a decided underdog as the champion of America East, facing Big 12 national power and No. 4 seed Texas Tech (24-7), which has been to 15 straight NCAAs.

If the Bears win, they advance to Monday’s second-round game against the winner of tonight’s late game pitting fifth-seeded Louisiana Tech against host and No. 12 seed Montana.

In spite of the challenge, UMaine senior Heather Ernest of Temple wiped away the mystery with a single thought during Friday’s press conference.

“They’re 18 to 22 years old, just like we are,” Ernest said. “They go to school at Texas Tech; we go to school at UMaine. We can’t be overwhelmed by the name on their jersey and the conference that they play in, who they’ve beaten.”

UMaine is coming off a lopsided victory over Boston University in last Saturday’s America East title game. That helped erase four years of frustration and pressure on the Bears’ seniors, who seem to be grounded in approaching the biggest game of their lives.

“I know that we can play the same level of basketball as Texas Tech,” Ernest said. “We definitely we want to get our name out there. We’re playing not only for our school and ourselves, but we’re playing for the state of Maine, and we’re very proud to represent the state of Maine.”

Coach Marsha Sharp’s Lady Raiders, who lost to Baylor in the Big 12 quarterfinals, know they’re in no position to be cocky or complacent about playing the Bears.

“I really don’t think it matters how many times you’ve been to the NCAAs or how many games you’ve played, the NCAA Tournament is cut-throat time and all that matters is how you perform that night,” said Texas Tech senior Natalie Richards.

Texas Tech has lost three of its last four games and, after losing an All-America candidate (personal reasons) and a 6-foot-5 center (broken ankle), relies heavily on a freshman and two sophomores in its regular rotation.

Sharp knows she has some younger players who will be tested tonight by the Bears and the pressure of NCAA play.

“I am concerned about them,” Sharp said of standout frosh guard Alesha Robertson and sophomores Chesley Dabbs and LaToya Davis.

“I do think they’re talented enough to make some plays,” she added. “We’re just gonna have to be very careful with their mentality and make sure that they’re set to go and ready to step up.”

Even though the Bears’ seniors are making their NCAA debut, the trio of Ernest, Julie Veilleux of Augusta, and Melissa Heon are seasoned players who know how to win.

“We’ve seen everything, we’ve experienced it, and I think we’ve devleoped into such leaders that this team needs,” Veilleux said.

“Our outlook right now might not be winning the national championship, but realistically we want to go out and play our game,” she added. “It’s going to be the same type of preparation and the same type of focus.”

The principles in this contest seem to think it might come down to muscle vs. finesse. The Raiders will pit their double-edged post game led by LaToya Davis and Jolee Ayeres-Curry against Ernest, Monica Peterson, and company.

Texas Tech may give away a couple of inches at a few spots, but they’re big, strong and tough, inside and out.

“It will be a test of wills,” Sharp said. “We want to be a little more physical and they want to be a little more finesse. We have to make sure that we don’t allow them to get us in foul trouble.”

Versyp has had her Bears preparing to defend in the paint, since the Raiders are adept at drawing fouls and getting to the line with a two-post attack and penetrating guards. But UMaine’s guards may match up well.

“I think we’ve watched film and studied them and we match up very well with them,” Heon said. “I think if we play our ball, it doesn’t matter who we have played because coach has prepared us for them just by our everyday occurrences.”