Cindy Blodgett’s theme for this year’s University of Maine women’s basketball team was, “Dare to be Great.”

Blodgett and her Black Bears hope to take the next step toward becoming a championship-caliber team after wrapping up a dismal 7-23 season with a first-round loss in the America East Championship.

“It’s frustrating,” Blodgett said often during the season, one which will go down as the least successful in the storied history of the UMaine program.

“Every good team has gone through what we’ve gone through [this season],” Blodgett said of the Bears’ growing pains, which came on the heels of a 13-15 campaign under former coach Ann McInerney.

Those who follow the program closely knew this was likely to be a difficult season.

UMaine came into the year with only two returning part-time starters in Kris Younan, the lone senior, and sophomore Amanda Tewksbury.

The other six veterans, juniors Colleen Kilmurray and Brittany Bowen, and sophomores Sandra Vaitkute, Brittany Boser, Kristin Baker of Bingham and Katia Bratishko, had seen only spot time.

Even with the addition of promising freshmen Tanna Ross of Newburgh, Emily Rousseau of Biddeford and Christina Mosher of Farmington, the Bears essentially were starting over under a new head coach.

UMaine’s tremendous inexperience, combined with the lack of a competent leader at point guard and key injuries, meant a season of frustration.

“I’ve told them a hundred times it’s not going to be easy, it’s not supposed to be easy,” Blodgett said.

UMaine began practice with 13 players. Transfer Whitney Morrow of South Portland left the team in November for personal reasons.

Ross, who eventually made the America East All-Rookie Team, tweaked her right knee in early February. She was slowed, then eventually forced to sit out the last four games.

Rousseau, who unselfishly made the switch from shooting guard to the point, helped steady the Bears. However, a right knee injury sustained Feb. 13 put her on the sideline for the rest of the season.

Then, in the last 10 days of the season, Bowen and freshman Magdala Johnson left the team for undisclosed reasons.

For Blodgett, inexperience wasn’t an excuse and won’t be one in the future.

“I told the team, now everyone has experience and now we need to start being accountable. We need to start learning from our mistakes,” she told the team after Thursday’s loss.

UMaine’s most glaring weakness was turnovers. The Bears averaged 22.7 per game in the regular season, which ranked 319th among 326 Division I teams.

The lack of a playmaker at point guard was a factor, but the turnover woes were spread across the board as eight players committed at least 50.

With miscues taking away numerous scoring opportunities and the Bears struggling to establish consistency and cohesiveness, the offense struggled.

UMaine had outstanding scoring balance. Tewksbury and Kilmurray each averaged 9.1 points per game, while Ross (8.8), Boser (8.7) and Rousseau (8.1) also were capable of scoring in double figures.

With Tewksbury (.802) leading the way, the Bears ranked first in America East and 27th in the nation in free-throw percentage (.752). However, they averaged only 57.4 ppg overall.

Despite having only two players over 6 feet, UMaine had a solid inside attack behind Kilmurray and Boser. Mosher (6-2) made great strides and Vaitkute (6-6) kept improving.

The Bears shot a steady 32 percent from 3-point range, with Ross and Rousseau the top long-distance threats.

The team’s best attribute was its rebounding. UMaine ranked second in the league in rebounding margin (plus-2.2) behind Kilmurray (5.0 rpg) and outrebounded AE opponents in 15 of 17 league contests.

Defense remains an area of concern for UMaine, which isn’t blessed with tremendous overall quickness. The Bears relied heavily on the 1-2-2 matchup zone with the aim of limiting dribble penetration and baskets in the paint.

They also played some man-to-man and utilized full-court zone presses. UMaine allowed 67.4 ppg and opponents shot 42 percent from the field.

Still, there were many bright spots. Tewksbury really started coming into her own, while Kilmurray and Boser made swift transitions from seldom-used backups to dependable, durable starters.

Shooting specialists Ross and Rousseau both showed the kind of ability that could make them impact players in the future. The energetic Younan played her heart out and had her best season in a UMaine uniform.

The hardworking Baker experienced ups and downs at point guard, but proved she can contribute. Vaitkute demonstrated the potential to be a dominating force in the post.

Mosher exhibited determination while fighting her way into the frontcourt mix, while the rugged Bratishko showed the ability to be a factor.

Johnson and Bowen played sparingly.

“I’m going to have a hard time looking back and trying to find the silver lining,” Blodgett said. “We may have improved, but we won seven games and that’s not a number I really need to see.”

With the foundation of the team having taken shape and a class of at least four freshmen on the way, Blodgett has high expectations for her players.

“We’re at a nice crossroads now,” Blodgett said. “We need every single day that we can use to get better and they need to become accountable and let me know – through postseason first and then over the summer and through preseason – how much this feeling [of going 7-23] really does hurt them.

pwarner@bangordailynews.net

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