ORONO – Ann McInerney has inherited a University of Maine women’s basketball team that is in need of some retooling.

In spite of the Black Bears’ relative youth (five freshmen, two sophomores), she isn’t allowing her players to make any excuses.

That certainly was the case Wednesday afternoon as McInerney put her players through a rigorous practice in Memorial Gym as the Bears continued preparing for Sunday’s nonconference game at Mississippi State.

UMaine won its first two games but has lost three in a row. The Bears have begun a stretch during which they will play six consecutive games away from Alfond Arena.

“We just need to do a better job getting better every day and learning from our mistakes that we make,” said junior Bracey Barker of Bar Harbor, who is second on the team, averaging 12 points per game and leads the squad with 3.0 assists and 1.4 steals per contest.

McInerney frequently whistled Wednesday’s proceedings to a halt to point out execution errors and ask for more intensity from her players.

“Right now a lot of our concentration is on us and fixing things that we need to do,” said sophomore point guard Margaret Elderton.

UMaine, coming off Saturday’s 68-60 loss at Michigan, is trying to develop on-court chemistry with a handful of players who are either new or playing expanded roles in the regular rotation.

“There’s definitely a lack of consistency,” said Elderton, a first-year starter. “We are a relatively new and young team, so we’re learning to play together and we’re learning how to gel.”

She said the Bears exhibited more effort and fight in defeat at Michigan than they had in the previous game against Rhode Island.

“There was a lot more fire to us,” said Elderton, who has been forced to be patient with her own development as she regains the strength and health in her left leg.

The fiery floor leader underwent surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee last February, then underwent surgery on her left ankle in April.

“I have my ups and downs,” said Elderton, who is averaging 4.4 points and 2.6 assists in 24.4 minutes per contest.

She played a season-high 31 minutes against Michigan.

“I’m building a lot of muscle back up, which is good, but it’s kind of a slow process,” Elderton said. “I’m feeling good and I’m getting better.”

MMA’s Thibodeau honored again

Don Thibodeau, a senior fullback on the Maine Maritime Academy football team, has landed another postseason honor this season.

The Gridiron Club of Boston has announced Thibodeau will receive its Joe Zabilski Award, which recognizes the region’s top collegiate players in Divisions II and III.

Thibodeau and the other honorees will be recognized Jan. 12 during the Bob Whelan College Football Awards Banquet in Burlington, Mass.

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound standout from Shawmut, who attended Lawrence High School in Fairfield, was named the New England Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for 1,531 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Thibodeau ranked second in Division III, averaging 170.1 yards per game. He netted 6.1 yards per carry.

UM women’s game time changed

The University of Maine has changed the tipoff time for the Black Bears’ Jan. 2 women’s basketball game against Holy Cross at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland.

The contest, originally scheduled as a night game, will instead begin at 2 p.m.

Bates’ Coffin an All-American

Junior defender Meg Coffin of Bates College in Lewiston has been recognized as a member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America’s All-America second team.

Coffin, along with Bobcats junior forward Kim Alexander were All-Region first-team selections, while Bates sophomore midfielder Molly Wagner was chosen for the second team.

Coffin moved from wing defender to sweeper in 2005 and helped Bates (14-4-1) limit opponents to 0.87 goals per game. She also scored six goals on her way to All-New England Small College Athletic Conference first-team recognition.

Coffin also plays for Bates’ nationally ranked women’s basketball team.