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Women's Basketball Picked Eighth in America East Preseason Poll
Oct. 30, 2008
ORONO, Maine - The University of Maine women's basketball team was picked to finish eighth (18 points) in the America East preseason poll, which was announced on Thursday. The voting was done by the league's nine head coaches. However, each coach was not allowed to vote for their respective team. Maine returns this season with much more experience than it did a season ago. Unlike the 2007-08 season, this year's Maine squad returns a majority of its statistical leaders from the previous campaign. The Black Bears return more than 50 percent of its scoring (66.5%), field goals (67.3%), three-point field goals (57.1%), free throws (67.2%), rebounding (63.5%), assists (55.8%), blocks (56.8%), steals (52.4%) and minutes (63.1%) from last season. Entering last season, the Black Bears returned less than 33 percent in all of those categories listed above. Maine returns its leaders in scoring (Amanda Tewksbury, Colleen Kilmurray, 9.1 ppg), field goals made (Brittany Boser, 106), three-point field goals made (Tanna Ross, 43), free throws made (Kilmurray, 89) and rebounding (Kilmurray, 5.0 rpg) from last season.
The Black Bears return four starters and six letterwinners from last season, including Kristin Baker, Katia Bratishko, Boser, Kilmurray, Tewksbury and Ross. Sprinkled into the mix are four newcomers including guards Brittany Williams, Jasmine Rush, forward Samantha Wheeler and center Samantha Baranowski.
Vermont was picked to finish first in the league, as the Catamounts received 61 points and five first-place votes. Defending champion Hartford was tabbed second (60 points, four first-place votes), while Boston University rounded out the top three with 50 points. Albany was fourth (41 points), UMBC fifth (31 points), Binghamton sixth (25 points) and New Hampshire seventh (22 points). Stony Brook rounded out the poll in ninth with 16 points. Maine plays host to New Brunswick this Sunday in an exhibition starting at 12 p.m. The Black Bears will host Husson in their second exhibition next Friday at 7:30 p.m. The regular season tips off for the Black Bears on Sunday, Nov. 16, when they travel to Durham, N.C. to face ACC-power Duke at 12 p.m. in Cameron Indoor Arena. Season tickets for Maine women's basketball are currently on sale and can be purchased by calling (207) 581-BEAR or toll-free (800) 756-TEAM. |
