It has been a testy first semester for the University of Maine women’s basketball team.

The basketball portion of the academic period ended with Saturday’s 57-47 loss at George Washington.

Coach Ann McInerney’s Black Bears head into the holidays with a 2-5 record, including five consecutive losses. UMaine hadn’t lost five straight since January of 2001.

“I think we showed a lot of heart and determination [against GW],” said McInerney, who is trying to remain patient during this tough stretch. “I thought we had a much better effort on both ends of the court.”

McInerney was especially pleased with UMaine’s defensive effort against a formidable opponent, but pointed out the Bears again had too many turnovers (28).

“We tried to control the tempo of the game, work the ball around on offense,” she said. “However, the turnovers still happened.”

Katie Whittier of New Gloucester scored a career-high 16 points, taking advantage of additional defensive pressure on teammates Bracey Barker and Abby Schrader and some screen-switching by the Colonials.

The Bears also are in the midst of final exam week, from which they will segue into a brief Christmas break before heading to Miami for games Dec. 28-29 at the Hurricane Holiday Classic.

“We are chartering down on Christmas night,” said McInerney, who is trying to finalize plans to spend some time with her family in Massachusetts before heading back on the road.

“[Wednesday] will be our last practice and then most of [the players] are heading out,” she said.

Maine continues to go through some growing pains. Evidence of its progress has been overshadowed by a testy nonconference schedule, including consecutive road games against Michigan of the Big Ten, Mississippi State of the Southeastern Conference and George Washington of the Atlantic 10.

The Bears still have some stiff challenges ahead in nonleague play. They’ll face Mississippi in the opener of the Miami tournament on Dec. 27 before facing either Miami or North Carolina A&T.

Then, before opening their America East schedule Jan. 4 in Orono against Binghamton, UMaine must take on perennial Patriot League power Holy Cross in Portland on Jan. 2.

UMaine clearly has some work to do if it hopes to be successful in America East. The squad has been plagued by turnovers (22.3 per game), and not just at the guard spots.

“The key things that we have to fix going into our league play are our turnovers and giving up offensive rebounds,” McInerney said.

“I think the frame of mind that we’re taking is not to let the kids get too discouraged, knowing we have played a very difficult schedule away from home, and continue working to be the best team that we can be,” she said.

The Bears, who have 12 players on the roster, will be a bit shorthanded for a while.

Freshman post player Brittany Boser, who has appeared in only three games, has been sidelined with a stress fracture.