The nationally regarded University of Southern Maine women’s basketball program has excelled in recent years behind small, speedy, aggressive guards who are effective at both ends of the court.

Coming into this season, coach Gary Fifield’s Huskies suffered two key losses with the graduation of guards Donna Cowing and Katie Frost.

Their departure has opened the door for Nicole Paradis, who has run right through it.

The freshman from Skowhegan has already established herself as a key contributor for the Huskies, who are off to an impressive 11-1 start.

“She has really made the transition quicker than most freshmen can make it,” said Fifield, who Tuesday night earned his 500th career coaching victory. “I think a lot of it is because of her quickness. She makes things happen offensively and defensively because of her quickness.”

Paradis, a 5-foot-4 sparkplug, has been productive. She is averaging 24 minutes per game and has made six starts this season for USM.

Paradis has scored 7.8 points per game while shooting a team-best 58 percent from the field and 52 percent from the 3-point line. She also is averaging 2.3 assists, 1.9 rebounds and 1.8 steals.

“She’s been shooting lights out and defensively we’ve really used her,” Fifield said. “Initially she was coming off the bench and she was really a catalyst defensively, changing the tempo of a game.”

Paradis, a NEWS All-Maine second-team selection last season at Skowhegan, came into the week as the state’s collegiate leader in field-goal percentage (.596) and 3-point percentage (.536).

She had seen time both at point guard and shooting guard alongside senior Katie Sibley of Boothbay. However, Sibley was lost for the season last Saturday with a knee injury.

That means Paradis will now assume more responsibility and be counted on for more offensive production.

“Now a little more of the load is going to go on her, but I’m sure she’ll be worthy of the challenge,” Fifield said.

USM is ranked No. 5 in the latest D3HOOPS.com Division III national poll.

Husson’s Gracie suffers injury

Holly Gracie came into the 2006-07 season with a shot at becoming the No. 2 scorer in Husson College women’s basketball history.

That quest has been prematurely cut short.

The 5-7 senior guard from Frankfort has been lost for the season after suffering a knee injury Dec. 9.

“She blew out her knee against Becker College, right at the last second,” explained Eagles coach Kissy Walker. “She took a last-second shot to win the game and blew it out.”

Gracie’s shot missed and Becker pulled out a 75-73 victory at Newman Gymnasium in Bangor.

Gracie sat out last season and returned to the program after giving birth to a son, Grayson, during the off-season. The former Searsport High standout appeared in eight games this season, averaging 6.8 points, 2.1 steals and 2.0 assists in 24 minutes per game.

“It was a heartbreaker for her,” said Walker, who wasn’t sure exactly how many points she would have needed to move into second place on Husson’s career scoring list behind Sharon Siebert.

UMF’s Davis gets committee nod

Julie Davis, the director of athletics, fitness and recreation at the University of Maine-Farmington, recently was named to the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics.

That group, made up of ADs from NCAA institutions in Divisions I, II and III, includes 15 members. It was established to study and make policy recommendations concerning opportunities for women in athletics at the institutional, conference and national levels, as well as other issues directly affecting women’s athletics.

“It is a great learning, teaching and sharing opportunity and a way to serve, give back and make a difference,” Davis said in a UMF release.

USM raffling spot on bench

The University of Southern Maine is raffling off the opportunity to sit with coach Gary Fifield and the women’s basketball team during a regular-season home game this season.

The raffle tickets cost $5 each, with proceeds benefiting USM’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

The winner will be announced at halftime of Saturday’s 1 p.m. USM-Keene State game at Hill Gymnasium in Gorham. The winner will be allowed to sit on the bench for the first half of a game to be determined by Fifield.

To purchase tickets or for information, contact Meredith Bickford at 207-780-5997 or via e-mail at mbickford@usm.maine.edu.

Meehan gets swimming honor

Bar Harbor’s Iris Meehan of Wheaton College in Norton, Mass., earned ECAC Swimmer of the Week honors for the period ending Jan. 7.

The freshman won the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 1 minute 3.56 seconds and took the 200-yard backstroke in 2:18.23 in the Lyons’ first-ever victory over Wellesley.

Meehan also swam the third leg on Wheaton’s victorious 200-yard medley relay squad, which clocked a 1:53.66.