Women's Basketball Opens Regular Season vs. North Dakota State
11/14/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team opens its regular season tonight at the new Cross Insurance Center with a 7 PM tip-off scheduled against North Dakota State.
The Black Bears, coming off a season in which they were one of the youngest teams in the country, return 11 letterwinners from last season's 4-24 squad. Of that 11, Maine returns four starters including America East Co-Rookie of the Year Liz Wood. Wood, who led all America East Rookies in scoring and rebounding throughout the 2012-13 season, was a six-time America East Rookie of the Week, averaged 10.3 points and 6.6 rebounds during the season. Wood led the Black Bears in assists (2.4) and steals (1.5) while shooting 35.5% from the field and 27.5% from beyond the arc. The freshman guard/forward combo ranked 14th in the league in scoring and seventh in rebounding. Maine also returns senior Ashleigh Roberts who led the Black Bears in scoring at 10.4 points with 4.7 rebounds. Courtney Anderson returns at the point as a junior averaging 4.7 points and 3.2 rebounds. Lauren Bodine returns for her sophomore year a season after ranking ninth in America East in three-point field goal percentage at 34.1%. Bodine ended the 2012-13 on a hot streak, scoring in double figures in her last four games. Maine welcomes two freshmen to this season's squad; 5-10 forward Sheraton Jones and 5-8 guard Sigi Koizar.
Maine will look to stay in a winning frame of mind after going 2-0 in its exhibition contests. The Black Bears opened with an 88-38 exhibition win against New Brunswick on Nov. 2 before defeating in-state for Southern Maine 72-42 on Nov. 11. Liz Wood paced Maine in scoring in both warmup contests, averaging 18.0 points and 10.0 rebounds including a double-double (21 points/12 rebounds) against Southern Maine.
The Black Bears enter the season 28-21 all-time in season opener's but have lost its last three. Maine's last season opening win came when the Black Bears defeated 61-58 against Central Conn. St in 2009. Maine last won a season opener on the road in 2005, a 70-35 win at Rider.
North Dakota State enters the year coming off a 10-19 season in which they finished seventh in the Summit League with a 6-10 record. The Bison lost their top five scorers from a season ago, highlighted by the graduation of All-Summit League second team guard Katie Birkel who led NDSU with 14.3 points per game. Sophomore forward Marena Whittle returns as the Bisons' top threat, returning as the top scorer (6.7) and rebounded (7.1). Junior forward Liz Keena returns after playing in all 29 games a season ago and averaging 4.6 points and 2.6 rebounds.
In their first game this season, North Dakota State rolled to a 112-62 win over Mayville State in the 2013-14 regular season opener on Friday, Nov. 8.
The 112 points was the most points scored by a Bison women's basketball team since the 2002-03 season, when North Dakota State defeated Omaha, 113-69. The Bison had six players score in double-figures, led by Marena Whittle's game-and career-high 20 points. She was also the leading rebounder, with nine. Brooke LeMar, a transfer from Southern Illinois scored 19 points while Holly Johnson had a career-high 15 points. Both LeMar and Johnson had eight boards. Miki Stephenson scored 14 points. Bree Whatman had a game-high seven assists with 13 points and Emily Spier chipped in 12 points with a game-high four blocks. The Bison shot 55-percent from the field (42-for-76). This will be the first ever meeting between Maine and NDSU.
This is the first matchup between Maine and North Dakota St. and also the first time the Black Bears have faced a team from the eight team Summit League.
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