Stacie Alley of Howland, called one of the most improved players going into last season by Coach Trish Roberts, has left the University of Maine women’s basketball team.

“I’ve decided not to play next year,” Alley confirmed Thursday. “Basically, with my knee (injury), I decided that it all would just be too demanding.”

Eight games into the season, Alley tore ligaments in her left knee during practice. She missed the remainder of the season and the North Atlantic Conference playoffs.

“It was frustrating,” Alley said. “I know I wasn’t really happy about the whole thing happening. Coach expects a lot out of us and if I wasn’t going to be able to give it my all, then it wouldn’t be fair to myself or my teammates.”

Alley also said the influx of frontcourt recruits influenced her decision to leave.

After a two-year career at Penobscot Valley High School in Howland, Alley attended Maine as backup center to Rachel Bouchard. Alley had transferred to PVHS from North Stafford High School in Virginia.

Alley, who will continue to attend the University of Maine as a student and major in education, avereaged 2.7 points per game (3.4 ppg last season) over her 18-game, two-season career.

Her best game as a Black Bear came on Dec. 30, 1990, in the championship game of the Marcal Tournament vs. St. Peter’s College in Teaneck, N.J. In the game, a two-point Maine victory, Alley scored 9 points and had 7 rebounds.