Coming into this season, the University of Maine women’s basketball team had lost only one America East regular-season game during the previous two seasons combined.

Thus far in 2004-05, the Black Bears own an 8-8 overall record that includes a 4-2 mark in conference play.

It appears as though parity has overtaken America East where, one-third of the way into the league schedule, there are six teams within two games of each other in the standings.

“I knew it was going to be that way,” said fifth-year UMaine coach Sharon Versyp. “Any game in this conference could be anybody’s, and I think it’s going to come down to the wire. It’s going to come down to execution and making free throws.”

Hartford (11-4) and Vermont (9-6) are tied for the AE lead with 5-1 records thus far. UMaine checks in third, one game back, and is only one game ahead of Boston University (8-7), New Hampshire (7-8), and Binghamton (4-11), all of which are 3-3 in conference play.

The Bears continue to search for the kind of consistency that will enable them to contend for the America East title and earn a second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament.

UMaine has a nucleus of three senior starters but continues to search for strong, predictable play from two juniors and a developing trio of sophomores.

Versyp said that prior to Saturday’s hard-fought win at Northeastern, she reminded her team to think about what it wants to achieve this season.

“We had to get back to, what is our dream? What is our mission?” Versyp said. “We need to get that back and what a better time than right now with 12 games left?”

That means establishing consistency in the hope of putting together a decisive stretch run heading into next month’s league tournament at West Hartford, Conn. Versyp believes the win at Northeastern, which required excellent late-game execution, will help give UMaine the confidence it needs.

“We just need to stay consistent and do what we need to do,” she said. “We need to build on this. We can’t all of a sudden go flat.”

As is always the case, winning games comes down to exploiting personnel matchups.

“Every team’s got different kinds of weapons,” said senior point guard Kim Corbitt. “Some teams are small, some teams are big. You never know what’s going to happen. You’ve got to play hard every game.”

In general, UMaine’s difficulties have come trying to defend smaller, quicker teams, especially in the post. The Bears have only three guards in their regular rotation, which requires each of them to play 25-plus minutes per game.

UMaine can utilize a big lineup, as it did Saturday when 6-foot-3 center Abby Schrader and 6-2 forward Lindsey Hugstad-Vaa joined 6-1 F Bracey Barker, 5-7 G Kim Corbitt, and 6-0 G-F Monica Peterson in the starting lineup with guards Missy Traversi and Ashley Underwood coming off the bench.

Playing a 1-2-2 matchup zone with the taller lineup is something fans may see more of this season. The Bears are able to bottle up the middle, both against good post players and dribble-penetration.

The one negative is they make themselves more susceptible to 3-point shots, especially if fatigue begins to set in.

“I think you’re going to see us playing [more] zone,” Versyp said, “especially if somebody’s post players are really good at getting fouls.”

Playing zone defense makes it hard for smaller guards to see open players inside and makes it more difficult to shoot over UMaine defenders.

Frosh Elderton out for season

Margaret Elderton, who is expected to be UMaine’s point guard of the future, will miss the rest of the season with an injury to her left knee.

Elderton’s knee buckled on a drive to the basket during the Bears’ Jan. 11 loss at New Hampshire.

The 5-6 freshman from Havertown, Pa., was just beginning to work her way into the UMaine guard rotation when she was hurt. Elderton was averaging 1.8 points in seven minutes per game.

Elsewhere on the injury front, senior center Nicole Jay sat out Saturday’s game at Northeastern after suffering a back injury during Friday night’s practice. Her status is day-to-day.

Special teams pivotal

Just how important are special teams in hockey?

In a three-game winless streak (0-2-1) prior to their current five-game unbeaten skein (3-0-2), the University of Maine Black Bears were 2-for-24 on the power play while allowing seven power-play goals in only 17 chances.

In their 3-0-2 stretch, the Bears have eight power-play goals in 27 opportunities while holding opponents to two PPGs in 27 chances.

“We’ve been working a lot on the power play in recent weeks and it has really paid off lately,” said junior right wing Greg Moore, who leads the team with eight power-play goals. “We’ve found some better combinations and guys who are willing to outwork the penalty-killers. If we sit back and try to be too fancy, we don’t win loose pucks on the walls.”

Sophomore left wing Josh Soares said they are “moving the puck well and more quickly now” and they’ve done a better job getting pucks to the net front, which has created more rebound opportunities.

“We work on the power play two or three times a week, and coach [Tim Whitehead] reminds us about the little things that make a difference,” said Soares.

Whitehead has tried several players at the points, which are pivotal on the power play, and he has even implemented a five-forward unit during the unbeaten streak.

“It’s an on-going process, finding guys at the point who can get pucks through, and the guys who have been back there lately have really stepped it up,” said Moore.

Sophomore center Michel Leveille, who plays one of the points on the five-forward power play, said the extra work has paid dividends but stressed that “we need to continue to improve it every day.”

Maine has improved to 27-for-168 on the power play for a 16.1 percent success rate this season.

Maine’s penalty killing, with the exception of that three-game stretch, has been solid all season. The Bears currently possess the seventh-best penalty-killing percentage in the country at 87.1 percent.

They have also generated some good shorthanded scoring chances during the 3-0-2 streak.

“We focus on the top guys on the opponents’ power play. We try to take their quarterback away,” said Bear senior right wing and co-captain John Ronan. “As far as getting scoring chances, it’s because of our all-out pressure. Once we clear it down the ice, we want to get on them. We want to make the goalie play the puck or make one of their defensemen uncomfortable when he plays it. We want to put them in an awkward place.”

Maine’s overall team defense has been outstanding during the current streak, allowing just seven goals.

“We’re doing a better job protecting Jimmy [goalie Jimmy Howard],” said Ronan. “He has been able to see shots better now. And when he sees them, he’s going to stop them.”

Maine has allowed an average of only 22.4 shots on goal over the last five games. Maine is the fifth-stingiest team in the nation, allowing 2.08 goals per game.

Moore has four-game goal streak

Lisbon’s Moore has a four-game goal-scoring streak, the longest of his career.

He had gone 10 games without a goal before his current spree.

“The last couple of years, I faded at the end of the season,” said Moore. “I’ve focused on not letting that happen this year and having a strong ending. I’ve been doing the little things during the week to prepare me for the weekend so I’m healthy and energetic.”

Moore is tied for the team lead in goals with 11. Bangor’s Derek Damon also has 11.

Maine hosts Northeastern on Friday and Saturday nights.