Scrappy Younan defensive catalyst for Black Bears Veteran trying to provide spark

ORONO – Kris Younan plays with tremendous intensity and emotion.

The scrappy guard from Chicago is trying to provide a consistent spark this season for the University of Maine women’s basketball team.

Younan hopes to show off some of her crowd-pleasing play tonight at 7:30 when UMaine entertains Boston University at Alfond Arena.

The 5-foot-7 Younan, who is averaging 5.1 points and 4.1 rebounds, knows coach Cindy Blodgett’s expectations for her are high, since she is UMaine’s most veteran player.

“Being a senior, being the oldest one on the team, having the most experience this year, she’s [Blodgett] going to expect a lot out of me,” Younan said.

Younan has played in 79 career games, starting 39, but has been part of a UMaine program in almost constant transition.

She was originally recruited by, and played one season for, former coach Sharon Versyp. During the last two seasons, Younan worked her way into the rotation under former coach Ann McInerney.

This winter, Younan has had to adapt to Blodgett’s system.

“Having three coaches, that’s really tough on someone,” Blodgett said. “To her credit, I think she’s tried very hard to do everything we’ve asked her to do.”

Perhaps the hardest part for Younan is proving, again, she is worthy of playing time.

“It’s definitely something you really have to adjust to: [The coaches’] personalities, knowing what they’re about, knowing what they like,” Younan said. “You have to focus on what they want out of you and what your role is.”

This season, Younan’s role has changed. She has gone from playing mostly point guard to playing on the wing. She has tried to provide the same relentless hustle and intensity.

Younan attempts to light a spark among her teammates with her play. When the result is positive, she is quick to pump her fist or shout in celebration.

“Once you let the emotion show, it takes everybody’s game to a higher level,” Younan said. “It pumps me up and it pumps everybody else up, also.”

Younan’s primary responsibility has been as a defensive catalyst. She usually plays at the top of UMaine’s 1-2-2 matchup zone.

Younan leads America East in steals (2.5 per game) and ranks fourth in assists (2.9).

“That top position is really someone who can reach passing lanes,” Blodgett said. “It really fits her nicely. The most important thing that Kris does is she keeps penetration out from the top [of the zone].”

She often sprawls out on the floor when getting fouled going to the basket or taking a charge. Those kinds of plays seem to energize UMaine’s fans.

“It helps us so much more when the fans are excited,” Younan said. “Having 3,000 people screaming for you, that’s exciting. Playing in Alfond is unreal.”

With that competitive fire comes some risk. She has been prone to turnovers, an area that has plagued the UMaine team.

And while Younan tiptoes a fine line between making good plays and miscues, Blodgett has learned to live with the results.

“There’s an element of that at times that you want to corral, but then again you have to let her do her thing, to a certain degree,” Blodgett said. “I understand that she is a risk-taker and I like that, too, because she’s not afraid to make plays.”

Younan, is poised to earn a degree in new media and enjoys working with computers, editing photographs and film. Before joining the work force, she wants to spend the summer working in Bar Harbor before exploring the possibility of playing pro ball overseas.

“I think it’s a great experience to go to another country, learn a new culture and get paid to do something you love,” said Younan, whose father Frank is an immigrant from Syria and whose mother Nancy came to the U.S. from Mexico.

pwarner@bangordailynews.net

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