UMaine’s Barker unanimous first-team league pick Underwood, Clark on 2nd team

Bracey Barker of Bar Harbor and Ashley Underwood of Benton have been the driving forces behind the University of Maine basketball team for the last two seasons.

The Black Bears’ senior stars were honored with America East All-Conference recognition during Thursday morning’s awards brunch at Vestal, N.Y.

Barker was among four players to earn unanimous selection to the All-America East first team, while Underwood claimed a spot on the second team.

“When Ashley and Bracey are playing that well, I think it carries throughout the team,” said UMaine coach Ann McInerney. “They are very confident and they are poised.”

Corinna native Danielle Clark of New Hampshire also gained second-team recognition.

Senior guard Mykeema Ford of Stony Brook was named the league player of the year, while coach Jennifer Rizzotti of two-time defending champion Hartford earned coach of the year honors. Courtnay Pilypaitis of Vermont was tabbed the rookie of the year, and New Hampshire’s Whitney Edwards was a unanimous pick as defensive player of the year.

Barker is joined on the All-AE first team by unanimous choices Ford and Jessica Smith of Stony Brook and Danielle Hood of Hartford, along with the Hawks’ Ikea Witt.

Barker, a 6-foot-1 forward, shook off a wrist fracture to become one of the league’s most difficult defensive matchups. She averaged a career-best 15.1 points and 6.8 rebounds while shooting a Division I-leading 93 percent from the foul line.

“She has been the face of Maine basketball during my tenure,” McInerney said.

“She can handle the ball, shoot; she can post you up; she defends. To have that kind of a weapon on the court has been tremendous,” she added.

Barker, who played her high school ball at Mount Desert Island, scored in double figures in all 16 America East games this season and was among the league leaders in several statistical categories. She was a third-team selection each of the last two seasons.

Underwood, a 5-8 guard, helped spearhead the Bears during conference play. She claims her first all-league honor after ranking third in AE scoring with 15.2 points per game.

Underwood, a former Cony High of Augusta standout, ranked second in AE free-throw percentage (.842) behind Barker and was second in 3-point shooting percentage (.421). Her 2.37 3-pointers per game led the league.

“I honestly think she’s one of the hardest players to guard in the league,” said Hartford coach Jennifer Rizzotti. “She came in here probably just as a 3-point threat and she’s really turned herself into a scoring guard. It took a multitude of players to guard her.”

Clark, a 6-foot guard/forward for the Wildcats, finished as America East’s No. 5 scorer with 14.3 ppg. She ranked third in free-throw percentage (.821), ninth in rebounding (5.8 rpg), and 10th in field-goal percentage (.444).

“I wish Danielle Clark was in a Maine uniform,” McInerney said earlier this season. “That kid plays with pride and heart and just will do anything to win.”