The awards continue to roll in for University of Southern Maine basketball star Ashley Marble.

The junior from Topsfield on Monday was named the 2006 ECAC Division III Women’s New England Basketball Player of the Year.

Marble, a 5-foot-9 forward who helped lead the Huskies all the way to the NCAA Division III national championship game, is among five players from Maine colleges to grace the ECAC All-New England team.

Marble was the catalyst for USM, averaging 17.2 points and 9.9 rebounds per game while shooting 54 percent from the field. She had 15 double-doubles on her way to recognition as the player of the year by the Little East Conference and the Maine Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.

She also was a D3hoops.com All-America first-team selection.

Marble is joined on the first team by teammate Megan Myles, Meg Coffin of Bates College in Lewiston, Salem State’s Estrella Kuilan and Caitlin Malcom of Brandeis.

Myles averaged 13.4 points and 5.8 rebounds for the Huskies and led the team in blocked shots (35) and steals (67).

“Meg and Ashley were instrumental in our success this season,” said USM coach Gary Fifield. “Aside from their statistical achievements, they have been leaders for us on and off the court. The are both very versatile players who were able to make key plays at both ends of the floor for us throughout the season and into the NCAA Tournament.”

Coffin, the New England Small College Athletic Conference women’s player of the year, averaged 17.1 points and 11 rebounds per contest.

The second team includes Eileen Flaherty and Justine Pouravelis of Bowdoin, Allison Flynn of Norwich, Courtney Parvin of Springfield and Wesleyan’s Hannah Stubbs.

Honorable mention went to Alyssa Burns of Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, Kari Simpson of the University of Maine-Farmington and Mount Holyoke’s Jonee Billy.

Riding a good reputation

University of Maine baseball coach Steve Trimper recently spent several days recruiting in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, home of Black Bears sophomore infielder Curt Smith.

With former UMaine coach Paul Kostacopoulos having established a relationship with some baseball contacts on the island, Trimper is looking for more talented prospects who might be a good fit at UMaine.

He was surprised to learn what an affection the people in Curacao have for Maine.

“Because of the Senior League World Series, they think Bangor is bigger than New York City,” Trimper said with a laugh. “All they talk about is the coaches, the families helping them out and people lending them fans while they were in Bangor.”

Trimper hopes the reputation Bangor has in Curacao might help him bring in more talented student-athletes in the future.

“I actually saw a bunch of kids down there; real good academic kids,” he said. “They want a chance to leave and go to college and play baseball.”

McAvoy’s streak ends at 13

Kevin McAvoy of Brewer, who is off to a hot start this season for the UMaine baseball team, had his team-best hitting streak snapped Sunday at 15.

The freshman third baseman, who leads the Bears and ranks second in America East with a .431 batting average in 18 games, was inserted as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning Sunday at New York Tech and flied out to right field.

McAvoy ranks first on the ballclub with three home runs and along with teammate Joel Barrett of Brewer is tied for the league lead with 22 RBIs. His 25 hits are third on the squad behind Curt Smith and Barrett.

Robinson approaches saves mark

Senior righthander Scott Robinson could become the owner of UMaine’s career saves record next weekend when the Bears travel to Maryland Eastern Shore and Delaware State.

Robinson picked up two saves at New York Tech, helping the Black Bears take two of three from the Bears. He now has 18 for his career, which is one shy of the record set by Mike LeBlanc from 1986-89.

Robinson, who last season established a school single-season mark with 29 mound appearances, has figured in every game in which he has pitched this season.

He has made eight appearances, six in relief, while compiling a 3-2 record and three saves.

Robinson also leads the team with 22 strikeouts in 26 1/3 innings this season. He owns a 6.84 earned run average.