Women's Basketball Faces New Brunswick in Exhibition Contest Sunday
10/28/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine Black Bear Women's Basketball team showcases its 2011-12 roster for the first time on the floor on Sunday, Oct. 30 when it hosts the University of New Brunswick in an exhibition contest beginning around 2:00 p.m. at Alfond Arena.
SCOUTING THE BLACK BEARS:
Maine returns nine Black Bears from the 2010-11 roster, a team that finished the season 4-25 and 2-15 in the the America East Conference. Leading scorer Ashleigh Roberts returns after averaging 10.7 points per game before being named to the America East All-Rookie squad. The Black Bears also return a senior presence in guard Brittany Williams (3.9 points per game, 1.5 assists), forward Samantha Baranowski (3.3 points per game, 3.2 rebounds per game). Samantha Wheeler, a former America East Second Team selection, will look to get back on the floor following last season in which she only played five games due to injury.
Junior sharp-shooter Amber Smith will look to give the Black Bears significant depth at the two and three spot as she was Maine's second leading scorer a season ago, averaging 10.0 points per game to go along with 4.2 rebounds.
A NEW LOOK ON THE STAFF:
Many changes have come to the program since we last saw the Black Bears on the court with the biggest being a completely new coaching staff. Head coach Richard Barron joins the Black Bears for his first season but 12th overall as he comes to Maine with a 152-139 record. Barron started his career with a five-year stint at Sewanee before moving on to the head coaching gig at Princeton where he took over a 2-25 team and made the Tigers into Ivy League Champions. After his time at Princeton, Barron spent a pair of years as the Associate Head Coach with Baylor, guiding the Bears to two NCAA apperences. Prior to Maine, Barron spent two years as an assistant coach at NC State. Barron is assisted at Maine by Jill Poe, former Black Bear Amy Vachon and Jhasmin Player.
THE NEWCOMERS:
The Black Bears welcome five newcomers to this year's roster. Mainer's Courtney Anderson (Greene, ME) and Rebecca Knight (Alfred, ME) are joined by Danielle Walczak (Lee, NH), Amber Dillon (Jamaica Plain, Mass.) and Kelsey Mattice (Cicero, NY).
QUICK GLANCE - NEW BRUNSWICK:
The Varsity Reds have already played nine games this season and currently sit at 2-7 on the season but enter today's game on a six game losing skid. Claire Colborne returns as UNB's top scorer as she averaged 18.6 points per game in her freshman year.
For tickets, please call 207-581-BEAR, 1-800-756-8326 or simply buy your tickets at the door on Sunday. The men's basketball team is also in action beginning at 12 p.m.
-U-M-
