Talented freshman class will be pivotal to Mariners’ success

Maine Maritime Academy women’s basketball coach Craig Dagan is quite excited about his freshman class.

The seventh-year coach had better be optimistic about the class, since it comprises 10 of the 15 players on his roster.

“This is as talented a group as I’ve ever brought in. Top to bottom, the quality is there,” said Dagan, who has guided MMA to consecutive NCAA Tournament berths.

“They’re working real hard and it’s going to take some time,” he added.

MMA (1-1) is looking to the future after the departure of five seniors, including All-North Atlantic Conference stars Alyssa Burns, Shelly Gott-Stillwell and Julia Knights, and three other veterans.

The group accounted for 77 percent of the Mariners’ scoring, 70 percent of their rebounding and 63 percent of their assists last winter.

This season, Dagan has a nucleus of four upperclassmen, and five returnees, upon which he can count for experience and leadership.

“I think it’s going to be a really interesting year,” Dagan said. “We’ve had to teach everything all over again.”

Leading the way is junior forward Megan Franklin of Skowhegan, who averaged 7.1 points and 4.1 rebounds coming off the bench last season.

“Not only is it a transition for the freshmen, now we’re asking people like Megan Franklin, who was a role player on last year’s team, to become a go-to player,” Dagan said.

The Mariners also feature senior point guard Kaitlyn Leeman of Baileyville (4.9 ppg, 2.5 apg), who started 14 games, and sophomore guard Kelsi Eiane of Harpswell (3.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg), who started 21 contests.

“Kaitlyn has played in a lot of big games for us,” Dagan said. “She’s taken a lot of responsibility on her own shoulders to make sure the young kids are prepared and ready to go.”

Junior guard Jo-Ann Provencher and junior forward Morgan Miller of Freeport hope to make more of an impact.

Several frosh are already making their presence felt.

Guard Brittany Hunt of Hickory, N.C., has emerged as MMA’s leading scorer (15 ppg). Post player Tatum Welch of Newport also has started the first two games, averaging 9 points and 5.5 rebounds.

A handful of other freshmen are contributing, including forward Amethyst Cousins of Tremont (7.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg), point guard Katie Pushard of Winthrop (7.5 ppg), and guards Katie Hutchinson of Dixfield (4.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg), Elizabeth Cote of Brewer (4.0 ppg) and Amanda Barker of Waterville (4.0 ppg, 3.5 apg).

Forward Ashley Tilton of Lubec and swing player Jessica Stahl of Bowdoin also have played early on. Center Amy Frederickson of China is the other freshman.

“There’s some talented kids who really want to play,” said Dagan, who hopes to implement a style that will utilize as many players as possible while developing some chemistry with different personnel groupings.

“We’re playing much more uptempo, pressing – at least we’re attempting to play that type of basketball,” he said. “We’re probably more athletic than we’ve ever been.”

Among the challenges of coaching so many freshmen is instilling a relentless work ethic, honing their defensive skills and preparing them for the physical and mental rigors of a college season.

In spite of the youth of his ballclub, Dagan wants the players to aim high.

“The kids want to learn and work hard and build on the success the program has had over the last three or four years,” he said. “We’re still holding them to the same standards [as past teams]. We want to compete for a conference championship.”