Sophomores lead Maine to victory Offense solid as Bears defeat New Brunswick

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ORONO – Kristin Baker and Brittany Boser spent most of their time on the bench last season for the University of Maine women’s basketball team.

The sophomores showed Thursday night they’re ready to play much more significant roles for the Black Bears.

Baker connected for 18 points, handed out five assists and made four steals, while Boser contributed 16 points and nine rebounds to spark UMaine to an 86-80 exhibition victory over the University of New Brunswick at Alfond Arena.

“Sitting on the bench for two years – one year for Baker – really makes you realize how much you want it and how hard you’re willing to work to get what you want,” Boser said.

“There’s a lot of inexperience and everyone really just wants to have a great year and do well, together,” she added.

A crowd of 1,750 turned out to watch former UMaine star Cindy Blodgett make her unofficial coaching debut. The fans were rewarded with a scrappy, determined effort by the Bears.

Maine opens its season at Clemson Nov. 9.

The hustle and desire demonstrated by Baker, a walk-on point guard from Bingham, and Boser, a power forward from Palmer, Mass., were noticed by Blodgett during the preseason.

“I’m not surprised,” Blodgett said. “They came right in at the beginning and I immediately was drawn to them in the sense of how hard they worked. That’s why they’re captains.”

While UMaine’s defense was less than spectacular, it was good enough. The Bears employed a 1-2-2 matchup zone – reminiscent of former coach Joanne Palombo-McCallie’s Blodgett-led teams – most of the way, then went man-to-man during their stretch run.

UMaine did a better job contesting shots and then rebounded well off the misses.

UNB managed only four points in the last five minutes.

“Obviously, we’re young and it’s [the game] a lot faster, so we’re just going to have to learn that we’ve got to move quicker and we need to talk more,” Baker said. “I think with experience, we’ll get there.”

UMaine’s offensive skills and chemistry were evident. The hosts shot 44 percent from the field, connecting on 11 of 21 shots from 3-point range (52 percent).

Baker and senior guard Kris Younan (18 points, three assists) led the long-range assault with four 3-pointers each, while freshman Tanna Ross of Hampden (12 points) hit two and classmate Emily Rousseau of Biddeford made one.

Sophomore center Sandra Vaitkute posted 13 points and seven rebounds for the Bears, who went 13-for-16 from the foul line. Rousseau added five assists and two steals.

Jessica Steed paced a veteran New Brunswick team (3-5 in exhibition play) with a game-high 23 points. Kathleen Singh tallied 18 points and seven rebounds. Katie Springer added seven assists, while Angela Aydon and Amanda Sharpe contributed six each.

UMaine opened the second half by connecting on seven consecutive 3-pointers while building a 12-point lead.

“That’s fool’s gold, that’s what that is,” Blodgett said of the 3-point barrage. “In fairness to them, they were all good looks, wide-open shots.”

New Brunswick continued to attack the Bears’ zone while erasing the second-half deficit. Springer’s 10-foot jumper and an Aydon foul shot gave the Varsity Reds a 76-74 lead with 5:11 remaining.

UMaine responded, putting the game away with a 10-2 spurt that made it 84-78 with 1:29 left.

Katia Bratishko scored from down low and Younan hit a 13-footer from the lane in transition to get the run started. Jessica Steed countered for UNB with a driving baseline move, but Boser hit a turnaround from underneath, then scored on an offensive rebound with 2:48 left to make sure the Bears maintained the momentum.

The Bears were without sophomore co-captain Amanda Tewksbury and junior Brittany Bowen, both of whom are nursing undisclosed injuries.

BLACK BEARS 86, VARSITY REDS 80

New Brunswick Maine

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Ryan 2 3 0 0 4 Younan 6 11 2 18

Sipprell 0 1 1 2 1 Baker 6 14 18

Steed 10 18 0 0 23 Ross 5 11 12

Springer 3 11 0 0 8 Boser 8 13 16

Aydon 3 9 2 4 8 Johnson 0 1 0

Sharpe 3 9 2 4 8 Rousseau 2 5

Val Vlack 0 3 0 0 0 Kilmurray 0 2

Rowe 3 5 0 0 10 Mosher 0 0 0 0

Singh 7 11 4 5 18 Vaitkute 3 13

Bratishko 1 2 2

Totals 31 70 9 15 80 31 71 13 16 86

New Brunswick 33 80

Maine 39 86

3-pt. goals – New Brunswick (9-26): Ryan 2-3, Steed 3-8, Springer 2-8, Rowe 2-4, Van Vlack 0-3; Maine (11-21): Younan 4-5, Baker 4-4, Ross 2-6, Rousseau 1-5, Johnson 0-1

Attendance: 1,750