UMaine women open Lady Griz tourney vs. host

The members of the University of Maine women’s basketball team returned home for the holidays last week for a little rest, relaxation and family time.

Many promptly came down with colds.

Even so, coach Sharon Versyp hopes the Black Bears will be rested and ready to go beginning tonight when they compete in the 25th Lady Griz Holiday Classic in Missoula, Mont.

“I think they really needed some time off,” Versyp said Monday. “They were extremely exhausted and their adrenaline was to the point where it was running out.”

UMaine (4-4) is likely to need all its energy while competing in a tournament that includes four teams that reached the postseason last season. The Bears make their second trip to Missoula this year for the tourney and tonight’s 9 p.m. contest against host Montana (4-4).

Undefeated Florida State (11-0) meets Louisville (8-3) in the 7 p.m. tourney opener at Dahlberg Arena.

Maine and Montana made the NCAA Tournament, while FSU and Louisville played in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament.

The Bears did encounter some travel difficulties heading out west. The team practiced on Christmas Day, then began winging their way toward Montana. Weather delays forced them to spend the night in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn., before completing their journey on Sunday.

“I think it takes them a couple days [to bounce back after the time off], but this group seems to be more focused than others I’ve had before,” Versyp said. “Everybody had five days off, so they were ready to come back.”

The surroundings at Dahlberg Arena will be familiar to most of the Bears, who lost to Texas Tech on the same court in last March’s NCAA Tournament first-round game.

Missy Traversi connected for a season-high 20 points in that game, a 60-50 loss, and Versyp hopes that will serve as a confidence boost for the ballclub.

“I expect the players to play like we have been playing,” Versyp said. “We talked about the NCAA experience out here, the environment. It’s going to be a great crowd (2,989 average), except this time they’re going to be cheering against us, not for us.”

Colby men cancel Phoenix trip

The Colby College men’s basketball team has been forced to cancel a scheduled trip to Phoenix because of travel complications caused by the recent inclement weather across the country.

Coach Dick Whitmore’s White Mules were suppose to have departed Boston on Sunday bound for the Grand Canyon Classic, but their plane flight was canceled.