Shooting touch back for UM’s Underwood Bears battle Cats tonight

ORONO – There are many techniques for shooting a basketball, but no aspect is more important than confidence.

Ashley Underwood admits losing her confidence earlier this season, leading to a big reduction in her productivity for the University of Maine women’s basketball team.

The 5-foot-9 guard from Benton, who shot a team-best 44 percent from 3-point range as a freshman, experienced a lengthy shooting slump. During a six-game stretch, Underwood went 5-for-37 from the floor (13.5 percent), including 4-for-28 (.143) from 3-point range.

“It’s all mental,” said UMaine coach Sharon Versyp. “If you’re struggling a little bit, the only way you get out of it is to start knocking down a few shots, because it’s all about confidence.”

Underwood has gotten back into a groove of late, averaging 15.3 points the last three games while connecting on 57 percent of her shots, including 50 percent from 3-point range. Her efforts will be pivotal when the Black Bears take on Vermont in an important America East game tonight at 7:30 at Alfond Arena.

Underwood broke out of the funk Dec. 28 at Montana where she scored a career-high 20 points. She admits the biggest difference in her shooting resurgence has been the restoration of her confidence.

“When you go out onto the court, you have to have confidence and believe that ‘when I shoot this, it’s going in,'” Underwood said.

“In practice I’d been hitting my shots and then I’d get to games and freak out and I’d have all this pressure,” she said. “Coach [Versyp] was like, ‘go out, relax.'”

Things got so bad at one point Underwood had her eyesight checked. She was prescribed contact lenses.

“I couldn’t get used to them,” Underwood said. “I didn’t wear them for Montana or Louisville or in the Binghamton game, so I think I’m OK.”

Underwood said she received valuable guidance from her father, Chuck Underwood, a former high school coach.

“I love going to shoot with him because he says, ‘I can tell right now what you’re doing wrong,’ and then we’d fix it,” she said. “He always knows what to say.”

Underwood has maintained her stroke from the foul line. She leads America East and ranks in the top 20 nationally at .897 (26-for-29).

Versyp said Underwood’s ability to create open shots other than 3-pointers has helped her get back in a good grove. During the slump, 76 percent of her attempts were 3-pointers. Of late, Underwood has reduced that to 57 percent by taking the ball to the basket and shooting the two-dribble jump shot.

“That’s been a key,” Versyp said. “Against Binghamton, she was 6-for-8 from the field and she only shot three 3s and that was really big for us.”

Underwood has continued to provide tenacious defense and has picked up her rebounding intensity. She’s just glad the Bears are playing well.

“I’m feeling really good, really confident, and I think the team looks great right now,” Underwood said. “We’re playing together.”