Women's Basketball to Kick-Off 2011-12 Season Tomorrow at 7 p.m.
11/10/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Game Notes -- Live Stats -- Live Video -- Audio
ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team will open up the 2011-12 season Friday, Nov. 11 as it visits Central Connecticut State University for a 7 p.m. affair.
The Black Bears will open their 48th season of women's basketball tonight with a contest against the Blue Devils from Central Connecticut State Univeristy. Maine is 1-1 in the past two year's in season opening games with its last win in an opener coming against CCSU on Nov. 13, 2009, a 61-58 win at Alfond Arena over the Blue Devils.
Maine returns its leading scorer and America East All-Rookie team selection in guard Ashleigh Roberts to this season's squad. Roberts led Maine with 10.7 points per game to go along with 4.4 rebounds per contest. Roberts picked up her game last year in conference play as she tallied 11.9 points per game in league matchups (ninth) with 5.8 rebounds. Amber Smith also returns as a scoring threat as she also ended the season scoring in double-figures at 10.0 points per game and 4.2 rebounds per. Smith ended the regular season fourth in the conference at 82.4% from the free throw line. As a unit, the Black Bears were third in the league in blocks per game at 3.7. The Black Bears also ended the 2010-11 campaign the third best rebounding team in the conference, pulling down 38.0 boards per contest. Maine also debuts an enitrely new coaching staff as Richard Barron (Kenyon College '91) takes over the head coaching duties with Maine. He is assisted by Jill Poe, former Black Bear Amy Vachon, and Jhasmin Player.
The Blue Devils are coming off another strong season in which they posted a 19-11 record and reached the Northeast Conference Tournament Semifinals for the third consecutive season. Over the last three seasons Coach Beryl Piper and the Blue Devils have won 49 games. This marks the second straight season that the Blue Devils have opened at home. Last year Central topped Hartford 46-41 in the opener, a victory that sparked a program-best 5-0 start to the season. Central Connecticut State lost all five of its starters from the 2010-11 squad. Jessica Babe returns as the leading scorer for the Blue Devils as she appeared in all 30 games for CCSU while averaging 4.7 points to go along with 3.3 rebounds. Babe's sister Jaclyn Babe joins the Blue Devils this season after transferring from Duquesne. Jaclyn Babe will look for immediate playing time as she averaged 3.3 points and 2.7 rebounds two years ago at Duquesne as she did not participate last season due to NCAA Transfer rules. Kirsten Daamen, Rachel Chandler and Jaclyn Babe were recently selected captains for the Blue Devils.
The Black Bears currently lead the career series against Central Connecticut State 12-4 with the two team's first meeting coming in 1977, a 91-78 victory for the Black Bears. The two team's most recent meeting came just last season in Maine's third game of the season as the Black Bears dropped the contest 62-57 to the Blue Devils. In that game, the Black Bears trailed by just one after a very competitive first half. Amber Smith paced Maine with 17 points while Corinne Wellington added nine points and five rebounds off the bench. Maine is 3-2 in its last five games against Central Connecticut State.
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