ORONO, Maine -- University of Maine women's basketball forward
Adrianna Smith has been selected to the America East Preseason All-Conference Team, as announced by the league on its annual media day Monday.
In addition, the Black Bears were selected second with 55 points and a pair of first place votes in the America East Preseason Coaches Poll.
Smith, who missed the 2024-25 season after suffering an injury in the preseason, is a two-time America East First Team All-Conference (2023, 2024) honoree and earned America East Player of the Year honors in 2023. In her last full season of competition (2023-24), Smith averaged 16.4 points and 10.8 rebounds while setting an America East single-season record with 22 double-doubles. Smith, who tallied her 1,000th career point on Feb. 15, 2024, registered 10 or more points in 32 of 34 games and 20 or more points in eight of those 34 during the 2023-24 campaign.
Maine returns two of its starters, along with Smith, from last year's team which finished the season with 15 overall wins and nine conference victories.
Asta Blauenfeldt, named to the America East Championship Team a year ago, returns after starting all 31 games while averaging 9.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists while shooting a team-leading 40.0-percent from three-point range.
Sarah Talon, who started 11 games a year ago, also returns after appearing in 29 games while averaging 5.5 points to go along with 2.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists.
Head coach
Amy Vachon, a five-time America East Coach of the Year and Maine women's basketball's all-time winningest head coach, returns for her 15th overall season on staff and ninth full season at the half.
The Black Bears open the 2025-26 season on Nov. 7 when they host Saint Joseph's at Skip Chappelle Court inside Memorial Gymnasium. Season and single game tickets for the upcoming season are on sale now and can be purchased online at
GoBlackBears.com/tickets, by phone at 207-581-BEAR, or in-person at the Alfond Arena ticket office.
2025-26 America East Preseason Poll
| Rank |
Team |
Points |
First place votes |
| 1. |
Vermont |
63 |
7 |
| 2. |
Maine |
55 |
2 |
| 3. |
Bryant |
46 |
|
| 4. |
UAlbany |
42 |
|
| 5. |
NJIT |
37 |
|
| 6. |
Binghamton |
26 |
|
| 7. |
New Hampshire |
24 |
|
| 8. |
UMBC |
23 |
|
| 9. |
UMass Lowell |
8 |
|
-UMaine-
