The women’s basketball team had a breakthrough 2013-2014 season in which they had the second-largest turnaround in the country, earning the No. 4 seed in the America East Championship.
The Black Bears have cemented their status as a contender in the America East this season by going on a nine game winning streak, highlighted by a 52-44 win at the University at Albany. Albany hadn’t lost a conference game yet this season.
This season, the Black Bears hold an overall 17-6 record, going 9-1 in America East play.
Defensively, the Black Bears have been playing championship-level basketball. They lead America East in scoring defense at 50.1 points per game. Much of this is due to the 2-3 matchup zone, which puts pressure on opposing guards to move the ball quickly, oftentimes leading to mistakes. UMaine is second in steals, likely a product of this defense.
Third-year forward Liz Wood is a huge part of this defense, leading the league in steals.
Wood’s active hands and nose for the ball have made her invaluable for a team that sometimes struggles on the boards, ranking around the middle of the pack.
This run has vaulted the Black Bears into second place in the conference in scoring offense. This charge has been led by second-year guard Sigi Koizar, whose newfound aggressiveness on the court has given the Black Bears another consistent scorer. Koizar’s ability to blow past defenders and her poise late in games has spurred her team to several close wins.
This has been a major point of improvement for the Black Bears, as they struggled in close conference games last year. Their improved play late in games has been a difference-maker this year.
The depth that UMaine possesses has also allowed them room for a top player to have an off night. Last year, if Wood wasn’t clicking offensively, it was a huge struggle for the Black Bears to establish a rhythm. In their game against Albany, the Seawolves made a concerted effort to keep Wood quiet and succeeded, holding her to two points (though she did have nine boards). Third-year guard Chantel Charles was able to pick up the slack, scoring a season-high 16 points in 31 minutes of play. Charles also nailed a couple of clutch three-pointers down the stretch that kept Albany at arm’s length.
Third-year forward Anna Heise has also been more aggressive for the Black Bears. Heise, a post player with impressive range, has been efficient around the rim and unafraid to step beyond the arc for an occasional three-pointer.
The Black Bears do not necessarily live or die by the three, but when they are hot from downtown, they are nearly impossible to beat.
For example, in their victory against the University of New Hampshire a couple of weeks ago, the Black Bears were able to get into a rhythm early with their three-point shooting. They ended up finishing the game shooting 57 percent from beyond the arc, led by third-year guard Sophie Weckstrom, who went 4-6.
UMaine has been able to shoot the ball well from beyond the arc without one of the most efficient three-point shooters in the league, second-year Lauren Bodine. Bodine has been hampered with injuries this season, but appears to be getting healthy just in time for the Black Bears to make a run at an America East Championship.
Weckstrom is quietly a key to UMaine’s potential run this season. A small shooting guard, Weckstrom has the ability to shoot from range and is a solid facilitator. When she is confident shooting from three, she opens up opportunities for other scorers and can punish defenses that leave her uncovered.
If the Black Bears stay healthy and keep competing the way they are, they could find themselves at the top of the conference at season’s end.