UMaine’s Barker shows off versatility in breakout game

Bracey Barker spent most of her freshman season at the University of Maine working, watching, and waiting for her opportunity to shine.

This season, the sophomore from Bar Harbor continues to emerge as one of the Black Bears’ most promising young players.

With starting point guard Kim Corbitt sidelined by an ankle injury Saturday, Barker helped UMaine absorb the loss of a key starter by playing the best game of her young career.

The 6-foot-1 forward poured in a career-high 26 points, grabbed nine rebounds, made three steals and blocked three shots in leading the 3-3 Bears to their third straight win.

Coach Sharon Versyp said the mental benefits of such a great effort is what will help Barker most.

“She has the potential to be one of the best players on the floor day in and day out,” Versyp said Monday. “It was great for her to have a breakout game so early, in the sixth game of the season rather than the 20th. It was a huge boost to her confidence as well as the team’s confidence.”

Barker, who was a point guard at Mount Desert Island High School, played the small forward spot last season before being moved inside. It appears as though she is developing into a versatile force for the Bears.

Barker, who Monday was named the America East Co-Player of the Week, now ranks second on the team in scoring (10.5 points per game), rebounding (6.2 rpg), field-goal percentage (.457) and steals (10). She is third on the squad with an .864 free-throw percentage and 14 assists (2.3 apg).

Versyp said there was never a doubt Barker would become a mainstay for the Bears.

“When we recruited her, from Day 1 we knew what her potential was and I think Bracey’s known that,” Versyp said. “I think she’s finally seeing it and doing it herself. She can be a do-it-all player.”

Versyp was pleased with Barker’s performance Saturday, especially because she was able to score from inside and outside and contribute in several facets of the game. Her development is aided by her willingness to learn.

“She’s very good at picking things up,” Versyp said. “I tell her to make an adjustment and I don’t have to repeat myself. She’s blossoming in the mental aspect as well as with her scoring and defense. She knows that I expect her to be one of the best players on the floor.”

Husson men seek consistency

Coach Warren Caruso wanted his Husson College men’s basketball team to feel a sense of urgency going into Sunday’s North Atlantic Conference home game against Mount Ida (Mass.). Thus, he billed it a “must-win game.”

The Eagles responded with their first win of the season and a performance befitting a program that has been a perennial state and regional power.

“We expect to be successful. We expect to play well,” Caruso said. “It’s not so much that we were 0-3, but we were 0-3 and had not played well.”

Husson seemed to get back on track with the 80-66 victory, showing off hard-nosed defense and offensive balance.

“We’re searching for a little bit of an identity and one identity I think we have is that we’re a good defensive team,” Caruso said. “If we can get our offense up to speed, then I think we’ll have success.”

Husson should be a much better ballclub with the return of Buddy Leavitt, who missed the first two games for disciplinary reasons.

The 6-5 junior forward from Guilford is an outstanding 3-point shooter, but also can be a dominating force underneath.

“We need a post presence and right now he’s giving us that,” Caruso said. “We need to be able to play inside and get some easy shots at times.”

The Eagles lineup, laden with former Eastern Maine high school standouts, also features gritty senior forward Jeff White of Etna. The former Nokomis High of Newport star was a tireless hustler on the boards and on defense in Husson’s Sunday victory.

“We really believe in our roster, that we have the pieces of the puzzle to be a good basketball team,” Caruso said.