UMaine women鈥檚 basketball looking to capture conference championship
ORONO, Maine (BVM) — The University of Maine women鈥檚 basketball team is in prime position to capture its third America East championship in four years. Coming in with control of the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament, the Black Bears have their sights set on bringing home another conference championship.
After losing star guard Blanca Millan to a season-ending injury last year, returning her to the starting lineup in 2020-21 was pivotal for the Black Bears鈥� success. After nine months of rehab, the fifth-year senior wouldn鈥檛 miss a beat in her return to action. Averaging 21.4 points per game, Millan has helped lead the Black Bears to a 17-2 record on her way to picking up America East Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors.聽
The honors for Millan are well deserved as the senior is closing out her career at Orono with her best season to date. Her career year has her ranked first in the America East in scoring (21.4), third in rebounding (7.4), and third in field goal percentage (47.9).
The Black Bears highly–awarded season wouldn鈥檛 end there as head coach Amy Vachon secured Coach of the Year honors.
For Maine, picking up individual awards was never the goal. Before the season, the Black Bears senior guard talked about coming back from her injury and her goal of winning an America East championship.聽
鈥淚鈥檝e been waiting for this moment for nine months now, so I鈥檓 definitely ready to go,鈥� Millan said. 鈥淚鈥檓 really excited. My first and only goal is to help my team as much as I can to get that (America East) championship. The game last year got canceled and it was heartbreaking for everyone, so I want to do every little thing my team needs me to do to get to that point.鈥�
Heading into the season, Maine was picked as the favorite to lead the America East in the preseason poll and after the team’s commanding regular season, the Black Bears have put themselves atop it. Rolling into the conference tournament winning 11 of their last 12 games, the team made quick work of its opening matchup against the No. 4–seeded Albany Great Danes winning 67-47.聽
With the win, the Black Bears are one step closer to their early season goal of winning an America East championship with a matchup in the finals against the No. 2-seeded Stony Brook Seawolves set for Friday.
