Shelby Pickering has enjoyed a superb first year at Husson College in Bangor.

After winning the North Atlantic Conference Player of the Year award for the Eagles’ soccer team, the sophomore standout quickly made the transition to the basketball court.

However, Husson is expected to be without its leading scorer for six to eight weeks after she suffered a broken bone in her left foot during last Friday’s game at Castleton State (Vt.).

“I’m hoping to be back for the playoffs but the doctor said it wasn’t likely,” said Pickering, who explained that she fractured the fifth metacarpal.

Pickering said she suffered the injury doing an “extended layup. I twisted my foot the wrong way.”

It should heal completely, she said.

The University of Maine transfer will have a walking boot on the foot for six weeks but will be able to get rid of her crutches in a week.

She said it is “extremely frustrating.

“I’m not a big fan of sitting on the bench and watching,” said Pickering.

Pickering, a 5-foot-8 guardforward from Lee, ranked second in the North Atlantic Conference in scoring at the time of her injury, averaging 17.2 points per game in 12 contests.

She also led the NAC in field-goal percentage (.576) and free-throw percentage (.833).

She was second in steals (4.0 per game) and was eighth in rebounding (7.3 rpg).

The loss of Pickering is likely to further slow down a Husson ballclub that has already lost senior guard Holly Gracie of Frankfort to a torn knee ligament.

Rising Stockwell

Senior Rob Stockwell has been a do-almost-everything player for the Bates College men’s basketball team, and last week was a good example of the kind of season he’s having for the Bobcats.

The forward from Temple, N.H., averaged 18.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists while hitting six of 16 3-point shots in three games. Stockwell is now seventh among all-time career scorers at Bates with 1,359 points.

The Bobcats are 11-2, but went 1-2 last week and are still looking for their first New England Small College Athletic Conference victory. Bates suffered back-to-back losses to Trinity and Amherst Friday and Saturday, respectively, and will take on Husson College in a non-conference game matching two of Maine’s better NCAA Division III programs.

Farrell hitting from long range

Colby College guard Nick Farrell tied a school record with nine 3-pointers while leading his team to a 73-56 win over Maine Maritime Academy last week. The senior from Aspen, Colo., had a memorable week, averaging 26 points and 31/2 assists while shooting 47 percent from 3-point range in three games (one win, two losses).

Farrell leads the White Mules in scoring (18.3 points per game), assists (4.8) and steals (2.1).

UMF’s Gallagher steps down

Jim Gallagher, the women’s volleyball coach at the University of Maine-Farmington for the last eight seasons, recently announced his resignation.

The Beavers are coming off one of their most successful seasons, posting a 17-9 record. It was their fifth straight winning season under Gallagher.

“Jim was a tremendous part of our athletic department and did a great job, basically building the volleyball program from the ground up,” UMF athletic director Julie Davis said in a press release. “They became a regular contender for the top four spots in the league and captured a league championship in 2002. He has done a very commendable job.”

Davis has appointed volunteer assistant coach Sarah Haney as UMF’s assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. She will oversee day-to-day operations of the program until a new head coach is hired.

Colby men’s soccer honored

The Colby College men’s soccer team has earned the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Team Academic Award for the sixth straight year.

The Waterville-based White Mules have the longest such streak for any team in the New England Small College Athletic Conference. Colby, coached by Mark Serdjenian, compiled a 3.26 team grade point average.

The Mules were 6-5-3 on the pitch last fall.

Colby’s Bailey has strong start

Fred Bailey of Colby College got his cross country ski season off to a strong start last weekend with two top-four finishes in the TD Banknorth/Chummy Broomhall Eastern Cup at Black Mountain in Rumford.

Bailey, of Andover, finished second in Sunday’s 9.5-kilometer freestyle race after having taken fourth in the 9.5K classical race on Saturday.

“Fred’s results are clearly the most spectacular we have had since my time at Colby,” said White Mules ninth-year coach Tracey Cote.