The Sunrise Conference appears to be ready to grow again starting next year.

Dr. Richard Cost, the president at the University of Maine-Fort Kent, was on a four-person team representing the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics on a recent visit to SUNY Canton to review that institution’s application for membership in the NAIA.

If it is ultimately recommended for membership by the Cost-led group and the Sunrise Conference, SUNY Canton’s application will by voted on in March at the NAIA Council of Presidents’ annual meeting in Kansas.

Canton would then be eligible to join the Sunrise Conference beginning with the 2007-08 academic year.

The Sunrise Conference, which includes UMFK, UM-Machias, Fisher College of Boston, and the College of St. Joseph in Rutland, Vt., this year also added Vermont Technical College and Paul Smith’s College of Saranac Lake, N.Y.

“We are delighted to see the conference growing,” Cost said in a release. “Based on our new numbers, the championship men’s and women’s soccer teams of the Sunrise Conference will receive a direct invitation to the NAIA national championship tournament next fall.”

SUNY Canton, if approved, would become the seventh conference member.

MMA’s Burns versatile, effective

Alyssa Burns of Maine Maritime Academy demonstrated Tuesday night why she has been named the North Atlantic Conference women’s basketball Player of the Year the last two seasons.

The senior swing player from Dixfield scored 10 points, pulled down 11 rebounds, handed out seven assists, made two steals, and blocked three shots in the Mariners’ 69-53 victory over Husson College of Bangor in Castine.

“She’s amazing,” MMA coach Craig Dagan said two or three times after the game, marveling at the 6-foot senior’s ability to excel at all phases of the game.

Burns, a high school standout at Dirigo High School, was a model of efficiency, hitting four of seven shots from the floor and getting the ball to teammates for open shots.

Husson’s Martin returns early

Crystal Martin was understandably upset last week when her doctor informed her she wouldn’t be able to return to the Husson College basketball lineup until early January.

The senior from Calais, who had broken her right hand while trying to dunk during Husson’s “Midnight Madness” ceremony seven weeks ago, apparently refused to take no for an answer. The doctor subsequently cleared Martin to play.

She came off the bench and logged 17 minutes in Tuesday’s loss at MMA. The scrappy guard played tenacious defense and wound up scoring one point with two rebounds and a steal.

Martin’s hand was lightly wrapped for protection and her shooting touch clearly had suffered from the time spent in a cast. However, her experience and energy should provide the Eagles with a significant boost.

Moore finds shooting touch

MMA’s Rebecca Moore is called upon mostly for her ability to play hard-nosed defense, handle the basketball, and set up the offense.

Tuesday night, the senior point guard from Winthrop proved she also can be an offensive weapon. Moore went 4-for-6 from behind the 3-point arc on her way to a season-high 12 points.

“That was the key to the game, as far as I was concerned,” Dagan said. “We expect to get offense from other individuals – our big three, so to speak – but when Rebecca Moore comes out and makes four 3’s, it just opens everything up and it gives everybody else a lot of confidence.”

Moore knows her role, but also has to be flexible to maximize her potential.

“We have amazing weapons on the floor, we have a deep bench, so I never feel like I need to shoot, but if I don’t shoot I get yelled at,” she said with a laugh.

Dexter’s Veazie honored

Brittany Veazie of Springfield College has been named to the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference fall academic all-conference team.

The junior from Dexter, who plays forward and mid for the Pride field hockey team, registered 18 goals, including six game-winners, and seven assists to help lead Springfield to a 17-6 overall record and a berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Honorees must have earned a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, be at least a sophomore and have been a member of the varsity team for the entire season.