Black Bears take time off, regroup

Coming off Saturday’s 66-50 loss to Hartford at Alfond Arena, the UMaine women’s basketball team has taken a couple of days off.

With its bye from a league date coming this week, coach Ann McInerney thought her Black Bears deserved a little breather after completing the first half of their America East schedule. They check in with a 4-4 record, good enough for fourth place in the conference standings.

“Playing eight straight games and then getting the bye, I think we’re at the point where they all need a break away from it. It’s been a long stretch,” McInerney said.

UMaine took Sunday and Monday off and is prepared to return to practice today. The Bears look to refocus as they head into the final eight games of the regular season.

UMaine continues to seek improvement on the court and also better its seeding for the tournament. That quest begins Saturday with a road game against New Hampshire.

The Bears will then play three straight home games and have a chance to generate some momentum heading down the stretch.

Cavanaugh transfers to Montana

Sophomore Christian Cavanaugh has transferred from the University of Maine to Montana State University.

The 6-foot-10, 228-pound forward, who is a native of Mill Valley, Calif., decided to transfer closer to home in the middle of January and left for Bozeman, Mont., Jan. 16.

“He was a little homesick and he wanted the potential to have more playing time, so he decided to transfer to Montana State,” said UMaine men’s basketball coach Ted Woodward, who now has an extra scholarship to offer next recruiting season.

Cavanaugh had initially decided to attend Montana State after his senior season at Tamalpais High School, but changed his mind after visiting UMaine and meeting with former head coach John Giannini and assistant Calvin Oldham.

Last season, Cavanaugh played in 21 of Maine’s 28 games and averaged 10.8 minutes, 3.1 points, and 2.0 rebounds per game.

This season, Cavanaugh appeared in 14 of Maine’s 17 games and logged as many as 24 minutes (Nov. 11 vs. Harvard), but saw his playing time decrease to 9.6 minutes per game. His scoring (1.9) and rebounding (2.9) averages also declined.

UMaine Super Suppah set Feb. 25

A $10,000 grand prize again is up for grabs as the UMaine athletic department prepares for its fourth annual Super Suppah.

The event is scheduled for Feb. 25 at the Bangor Civic Center. Proceeds will be directed to the Black Bear Scholarship Fund, which assists in defraying the scholarship costs of UMaine student-athletes.

Tickets for the event are $300 and include dinner for two and a 1-in-125 chance of winning the grand prize. The evening begins with a social hour from 5-6 p.m. Dinner starts at 6.

Other prizes include a trip for two to Hawaii, a diamond pendant, a framed painting by Vits Knuble and numerous other gifts. Merrill Bank is underwriting the supper, which also is sponsored by Darlings Auto, Bangor Travel Services, Cross Insurance and RBC Dain Rauscher.

There also will be silent and live auctions that will include autographed sports memorabilia, along with Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots tickets.

In its first three years, the Super Suppah has raised more than $75,000 for Black Bear scholarships.

For tickets or information, call the Black Bear Club at 581-1130 or contact a member of the Black Bear Board of Advisors, which is coordinating the event.