Orono, Maine -- The University of Maine women's basketball team welcomes Tulane, Harvard and Dayton for the second annual Tip-Off Tournament at 'The Pit' inside Memorial Gymnasium beginning on Friday, Nov. 10 at 6 p.m.
Tournament Schedule:
Nov. 10 - Maine vs. Tulane - 6 p.m.
Nov. 10 - Dayton vs. Harvard - 8 p.m. (or 30 mins. after game one)
Nov. 11 - Dayton/Harvard vs. Tulane - 2 p.m.
Nov. 11 - Dayton/Harvard vs. Maine - 4 p.m. (30 mins after game one)
Â
Maine begins its 54th season of basketball looking for its 31st season opening win (31-22) and will try to start 1-0 for the third-straight year. Maine, which finished 10-2 at home a year ago, last played at Memorial Gym back on March 2, 2013 (New Hampshire). The Black Bears are looking for their first win at Memorial Gym since they defeated Maine Maritime Academy by a score of 73-37 back on Nov. 29, 2011.
A LOOK AT THE BLACK BEARS:
The Black Bears return to action a year after going 18-16 and earning their second-straight appearance in the America East Championship title game. Maine posted a 10-2 mark at home last season.
Individually, Maine returns four of its six leading scorers led by America East All-Rookie selection Blanca Millan. In her first season, Millan averaged 8.6 points and 2.9 rebounds with a 43.5-percent mark from the floor. Defensively, Millan ranked fifth in the America East with 61 steals and 10th in steals per game (1.8). Millan is joined by redshirt junior guard
Tanesha Sutton. Sutton posted 7.4 points per game a year ago and led the Black Bears in rebounding (4.8) and assists (2.6). Julie Brosseau returns as Maine's top 3-point threat after hitting a team-high 59 from beyond the arc a year ago, checking in with 6.8 points per game and a 33.7-percent rate from 3-point range. Fanny Wadling bolsters Maine's post presence, returning after averaging 5.0 points and 3.7 rebounds in her first season.
Five newcomers will look to see action in their first collegiate games this weekend. In Maine's only exhibition of the season, freshman guard Dor Saar finished with eight points and five rebounds in a preview of what looks to be a promising season for the first-year guard from Israel.
A year ago, the Black Bears held opponents to just 58.0 points per game, a mark which ranked third in the America East and 42nd in the nation. In 2017, the Black Bears ranked second in the America East in 3-point makes (202) and 3-point attempts (677) while averaging 59.9 points per game.
SCOUTING TULANE:
Tulane, picked to finish sixth in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) preseason poll, returns a year after going 18-15 and advancing to the third round of the Women's NIT, matching a program record for longest run in the WNIT. The Green Wave, who reached the postseason for the eighth straight season, return senior guard Kolby Morgan. Morgan, who averaged 19.2 points and 5.5 rebounds a year ago, was named to the AAC preseason all-conference second team. Tulane's offensive strength in 2016-17 was from beyond the arc. The Green Wave knocked down 193 shots from 3-point range, led by Morgan's 79 makes.
MAINE/TULANE SERIES:
Maine and Tulane will be meeting for the fourth time in history, and the second time in as many years. Tulane holds a 2-1 all-time record, winning each of the last two meetings. The Black Bears captured the first-ever meeting, winning by a score of 65-57 in Tulane's last visit to Maine. That game was played in Portland. A year ago, Tulane defeated the Black Bears 77-62 on Dec. 28, 2016. Julie Brosseau chipped in 11 points off the bench for Maine while
Tanesha Sutton and Fanny Wadling each added six. The Black Bears led the game at the half, 34-31, but were unable to close hold on. The only other meeting in the series came on Dec. 29, 1998 when Tulane defeated the Black Bears in New Orleans, 85-76.
AMERICA EAST PRESEASON POLL
After defeating No. 1 New Hampshire on their way making their second-straight appearance in the America East title game, the Black Bears have been selected sixth in the America East Preseason Coaches Poll. New Hampshire, the defending regular season champions, earned eight first-place votes as the favorite and were followed by the 2017 America East Tournament Champions UAlbany.
RETURNING
The Black Bears return three starters and six letterwinners. Included in the returners are four of the top six scorers from a year ago. America East All-Rookie selection Blanca Millan leads the returners after averaging 8.6 points and 2.9 rebounds.
Tanesha Sutton, who led Maine in rebounding (4.8) and assists (2.6) also returns after averaging 7.4 points. Julie Brosseau led Maine with a 33.7% mark from 3-point range while Fanny Wadling also returns after chipping in 5.0 ppg and 3.7 rpg.
COACH VACHON
Vachon, who spent the final 18 games of the 2016-17 season at the helm of the Black Bears' staff, was officially named the interim head coach for the 2017-18 season on April 5 of 2017. Vachon, who took over head coaching duties after Coach
Richard Barron stepped aside due to health complications, guided the Black Bears to an 11-7 mark during her time at the helm. Vachon led the Black Bears back to the America East title game, along the way knocking off No. 1 seeded New Hampshire in the America East semifinals. Vachon also guided UMaine to key wins, including an 84-71 victory over eventual America East Champions UAlbany. Under her guidance, the Black Bears posted an impressive 7-1 record at home.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Black Bears have been very impressive at home in recent history. Maine is 36-2 on its home court over the past three seasons, including a 22-2 mark in America East play. The home mark includes a 21-game win streak, including a 13-0 home record in 2015-16. Last season, Maine averaged 66.6 points per game at home, outscoring opponents by a +9.2 margin compared to averaging 56.2 ppg on the road.
CHALLENGING NON-CONFERENCE SLATE
A year after playing both of the team who appeared in the 2017 NCAA Title Game (South Carolina/Mississippi St.), the Black Bears will be well tested early on in their season with another challenging non-conference slate. Maine will take on a pair of teams who begin the season in the top-10 of the AP 25 poll (No. 5 Ohio State, No. 7 Mississippi St). Maine will also take on preseason No. 12 Duke and Miami, who is ranked No. 24 in the USA Today Top-25 poll.
DEFENSE UNDER 50
Maine has prided itself on defense over the past couple seasons. The Black Bears are 38-1 over the past three seasons when holding a team under 50 points. What's even more impressive is that the Black Bears have held 39 opponents under 50 points in three seasons.
SEASON OPENERS
The Black Bears are 31-22 all-time in season openers. Maine has won each of its last two regular season openers, including a 67-47 win over Purdue in last season's Tip-Off Tournament opener. Maine last kicked off its home schedule at Memorial Gym back on Nov. 19, 2011 against Bryant.
QUARTER BREAKDOWN
In 2016-17, the Black Bears consistently got off to hot starts. Maine outscored the opposition 518-440 in the first quarter last year, averaging 15.2 points in the opening 10-minutes. Maine was outscored by the opposition in both the second and third quarters but came out on top by a slim 528-477 margin in the final period.
PLAYING PRO
A number of recent Black Bear grads have gone on to enjoy professional careers overseas.
Sigi Koizar (ZTE NKK - Zalaegerszeg, Hungary);
Milica Mitrovic (Partizan - Belgrade, Serbia); Sam Baranoswki (Anglet Cote Basque Basket - Anglet, France);
Liz Wood (Wasserburg 2nd Division - Wasserburg, Germany);
Chantel Charles (C.B. Arxil - Pontevedra, Spain);
Mikaela Gustafsson (Girolive Panthers Osnabruck - Osnabruck, Germany); Sophie Weckstrom (Aros Leon - Leon, Spain);
Anna Heise (Wasserburg 2nd Division - Wasserburg, Germany).
INTERNATIONAL FLAIR
This year's roster is made up of players from five countries and the United States. Represented are Canada (Julie Brosseau); Israel (Dor Saar); Spain (Blanca Millan); Kira Barra (Germany); Fanny Wadling (Sweden).
ROSTER LEVELS
The Black Bear roster is made up of one senior, three juniors, four sophomores and five freshmen.
INTRODUCING THE FRESHMEN
Forward - Maeve Carroll: Two-year starter for the Fairfax Stars of the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League ... U17 Team Captain, guided the team to compete at the Nike National Tournament ... Fairfax State Girls Basketball Hall of Famer ... Four-year starter at Georgetown Visitation Preparatory in Washington DC ... Tallied 1,353 points, averaging 14.1 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists in high school career ... Washington Pot All-Met first team, first team all-league, first team all-state.
Guard - Dor Saar: Captain during the 2016-17 season, spent time competing at the Israeli Basketball Academy and also spent three years with the Team Israel International team ... three-time International Tournament MVP ... Avearged 10.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists, leading her U18, U16 and U14 teams to the Israel National Championship and National Cup.
Guard - Kelly Fogarty: Finished career at Walpole high with 1,082 points and a school-record 245 3-pointers ... averaged 18 ppg as a senior captain ... Boston Globe Player of the Year selection ... nominated for McDonald's All-American game ... Unanimous first team all-league start and Co-MVP of Herget League.
Center - Kat Williams: Averaged double-double (10 pts/10 rebs) to go along with six blocks per game for Majory Stoneman Douglas high school ... as a captain, led team to a school-record 28-3 mark and a District Championship in 2017 ... named to the all-state team, first-team All-Broward County selection.
Forward - Kira Barra: Competed in the European and German championships over a six-year period ... won back-to-back U19 German Championships ... played for BC Marburg and Bender Basketbas Gruenberg.
-UMaine-
