Biddeford, Maine native Emily Rousseau was named to the Hurricane Holiday Classic All-Tournament team after she helped lead the Black Bears to a second-place finish in the event, including a 54-53 win over ACC-foe Miami. She averaged 14.0 points during tournament play. As a result of her efforts she was named America East Rookie-of-the-Week.

University of Maine freshman guard Emily Rousseau was named the America East Rookie of the Week on Wednesday for her performance this past weekend at the 2007 Hurricane Holiday Classic in Coral Gables, Fla. It marks the second-straight week the conference honored a Black Bear rookie with the award.

Rousseau was named to the Hurricane Holiday Classic All-Tournament team after she helped lead the Black Bears to a second-place finish in the event, including a 54-53 win over ACC-foe Miami. She averaged 14.0 points during the two games, including a game-high 16 points in the championship game versus Toledo, and a team-high 12 points in the victory over the Hurricanes.

Rousseau currently ranks in the top 25 in four America East statistical categories, including: scoring (24th, 8.8 ppg), field goal percentage (10th, 44.3%), three-point field goal percentage (3rd, 42.6%) and three-point field goals made per game (T-7th, 1.77tppg).

Rousseau becomes the second Black Bear freshman this season to earn the league's weekly rookie award. Guard Tanna Ross has also received the honor three times, including last week. Both players have combined to earn the award in four of the eight weeks that it has been presented this season. Maine's four weekly rookie-of-the-week honors leads all conference teams.

The Black Bears open America East play this Saturday night at 7 p.m., when they play host to defending conference champion UMBC at Alfond Arena. Tickets still remain for the contest and can be purchased by calling 581-BEAR or toll-free at (800) 756-TEAM.

Rousseau leads Black Bears, as Maine Defeats ACC-foe Miami in semifinals of Hurricane Holiday Classic

Freshman guard Emily Rousseau scored a team-high 12 points to lead the University of Maine women's basketball team to a 54-53 victory over ACC-foe Miami on Saturday in the opening round of the 2007 Hurricane Holiday Classic. The Black Bears (3-9) advanced to the championship game of the Classic, which will be held at 7 p.m., on Sunday night at the Bank United Center in Coral Gables, Fla.

Sophomore guard Amanda Tewksbury chipped in 11 points, while pulling down seven rebounds and handing out two assists. Junior forward Colleen Kilmurray added seven points and eight rebounds, while Tanna Ross had nine points, one assist and steal each.

Maurita Reid paced the Hurricanes with 25 points, while Carla Williams dropped in 12 as Miami fell to 5-8 on the season.

The victory marked the second-straight season Maine knocked off a team from the ACC. The Black Bears turned the trick last season in the championship of the 2006 Dead River Company Classic, as Tewksbury drained a 17-foot jumper at the buzzer to lift Maine to an 80-78 win over Clemson. Maine defeated an ACC team for just the fifth time in program history. Miami was the third ACC opponent Maine has faced this season.

The final two minutes of the contest was played a frenetic pace. Ross converted a three-point play with 1:51 remaining to put the Black Bears ahead 54-47. Reid drained a three at the other end to pull Miami within 54-50. Williams drew Miami closer at 54-52 with 24 seconds remaining on a layup. Albrey Grimsley made a steal for Miami off the ensuing inbounds and fed the ball to Williams who missed a layup but was fouled. She was able to convert just one of her two free throws to make it 54-53 with :13 to go.

Rousseau missed the first of a 1-and-1 at the other end, thus giving Miami one more chance to pull out the win. However, LaToya Cunningham's final desperation three at the buzzer bounced off the back of the rim, thus giving the win to Maine.

Maine trailed just once in the contest and that was at 19-18 with 6:55 remaining in the first half. However, the Black Bears answered with an 11-0 run, sparked by four points from Tewksbury, to take a commanding 29-19 lead.

Senior forward Billy Ryan was named to the 2007 Florida College Hockey Classic All-Tournament team following his balanced performance over the weekend for the Black Bears. Ryan netted a goal and an assist for Maine in a 5-3 semi-final victory over eighth ranked Clarkson.

Ryan named to 2007 Florida College Hockey Classic All-Tournament Team

The University of Maine men's ice hockey team fell to UMass Lowell 6-0 in the championship game of the 2007 Florida College Hockey Classic on Saturday night in Estero, Fla. The Black Bears fall to 6-8-2 on the season.

UMass Lowell struck first when Jonathan Maniff scored his sixth goal of the season from Chris Auger 2:24 into the first period.

The River Hawks added to their lead just 1:08 into the second period. Scott Campbell had a shot that Maine's Ben Bishop (Des Peres, Mo.) saved, but Campbell got his own rebound and beat Bishop. Mark Roebothan assisted on the goal for the River Hawks. The River Hawks took a 3-0 lead at 11:46 of the second period when Patrick Cey scored on an add-man rush. Kory Falite and Maniff notched assists on the goal for UMass Lowell.

UMass Lowell made it 4-0 3:30 into the third period when Maniff scored his second goal of the game. Auger and Jason DeLuca assisted on the goal for UMass Lowell.

Campbell scored his second of the night 13:00 into the third period. Maine goalie Dave Wilson (Caledon East, Ontario) came out to play the puck and Campbell stole the puck and deposited it into the net. The River Hawks made is 6-0 just over a minute later when Barry Goers scored from DeLuca and Maniff.

Bishop made 14 saves in 43:30 of play. He falls to 6-8-2 on the season. Wilson finished with five saves in 16:30.

After the game, Simon Danis-Pepin (Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec) and Billy Ryan (Milton, Mass.) were each named to the 2007 Florida College Hockey Classic All-Tournament team.

The Black Bears return to action on Friday, January 4 when they host Hockey East leading Northeastern at 7 p.m. at Alfond Arena in Orono.

Ryan paces Black Bears in 5-3 victory over #8 Clarkson

The University of Maine men's ice hockey team skated to a 5-3 victory over eighth-ranked Clarkson on Friday night in the opening round of the Florida College Classic. The Black Bears improve to 6-7-2 on the season, while Clarkson falls to 10-6-0. The Black Bears will look to win their fourth Florida College Classic Championship and second in a row when they face UMass Lowell on Saturday night.

Maine opened the scoring with a power play goal at 12:35 of the first period. Simon Danis-Pepin (Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec) beat Clarkson goalie David Leggio with a shot from between the circles. Bret Tyler (Maynard, Mass.) and Keenan Hopson (Prince George, British Columbia) assisted on the first goal of the game.

Clarkson got on the board with a goal just 28 second into the second period by Nick Dodge.

Maine answered back with a goal by Andrew Sweetland (Bonavista, Newfoundland) just over three minutes later. Sweetland beat several defenders as he skated down the center of the ice and beat Leggio with an impressive move. Hopson assisted on the goal.

Rob Bellamy (Westfield, Mass.) gave the Black Bears a 3-1 lead 11:33 into the second period when he scored his second of the season from Billy Ryan (Milton, Mass.).

Clarkson then scored a pair of goals by Michael Kosziwka and Mike Arciero to tie the game at 3-3.

Sweetland added his second of the night at 16:12 on the power play to give the Black Bears a lead that they would not relinquish. Ryan and Travis Ramsey (Lakewood, Calif.) teamed up in the defensive zone to find Sweetland who skated in and beat Leggio. For Sweetland, it was his fourth goal of the season.

Billy Ryan capped the scoring for the Black Bears when he scored an impressive goal at 16:00 of the third period. Ryan scored the goal from just in front of Leggio with one hand on the stick as he was falling to the ice. Tanner House (Cochrane, Alberta) assisted on the goal by Ryan.

Ben Bishop (Des Peres, Mo.) made 21 saves in goal as he improves to 6-7-2 on the season. Leggio made 32 saves for the Golden Knights and falls to 10-5-0.

Maine finished with a commanding 37-24 advantage in shots. The five goals tied the season-high for the Black Bears.

The Black Bears will face UMass Lowell in the championship game of the Florida College Classic on Saturday, December 29 at 7:35 p.m.