The on-court education for the youthful University of Maine women’s basketball will continue on Friday and Sunday, when they participate in the University of Miami’s Thanksgiving Tournament in Coral Gables, Fla.
The 3-1 Black Bears will face 3-1 Miami, an NCAA Tournament team a year ago, at 4 p.m. Friday at the Watsco Center in Coral Gables and will play Kennesaw State (Georgia) at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
Kennesaw State took a 1-4 record into the 1 p.m. tournament opener against the 3-2 University of Maryland Terrapins.
The Black Bears haven’t played since a 100-40 victory over the University of Maine at Fort Kent last Thursday and interim head coach Amy Vachon is looking for further development from her team, which has nine freshmen and sophomores on the 13-player roster.
“We want to accelerate their maturity but we can’t do that. It will come with time,” Vachon said. “I think they’re doing a good job. We’re really getting into the meat of our schedule now so we’ll see how we do.
“We have a great opportunity this weekend. We’ve had a week off after the craziness of four games in six days. So we’re refreshed,” said Vachon, who left with her team on a bus to Portland at 6:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving.
They flew to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., from Portland, and they were expected to land at 5 p.m. before immediately going to practice at the Watsco Center. They had Thanksgiving dinner Wednesday night.
One of the things she will be looking for will be to get better shooting performances from junior Parise Rossignol, sophomore Julie Brosseau and freshman Kelly Fogarty, who are all guards.
Van Buren’s Rossignol, who didn’t play last year, is shooting 21.5 percent from the floor and 22.2 percent from beyond the 3-point arc; Brosseau is at 21.1 percent and 12.5 percent, respectively; and Fogarty is at 40 percent and 35.3 percent.
“Shooting is a finicky things. Sometimes it gets in your head,” Vachon said. “Parise, Julie and Kelly are three of the best shooters I’ve seen since I’ve been here, and they haven’t been shooting the ball great. But I know they’ll turn it around.”
Vachon said she is looking for a high compete level from her team and said she likes her team’s compete level, intensity and effort so far.
Vachon and her staff keep statistics during practice so players have to earn their playing time through their practice performances.
The Black Bears take pride in their defense and ball protection, and they are in the top 14 in the country in both defense and fewest turnovers. After scoring just 34 points in a season-opening 42-34 loss to Tulane, they have scored at least 70 points in their last three games.
“If we can do that, we’ll be in good shape in most games,” Vachon said.
She said Miami and Kennesaw State are two teams who love the push the ball in transition and have guards who like to penetrate.
“We need to limit that and play our game,” Vachon said.
Two of the freshmen who have impressed Vachon of late have been forwards Maeve Carroll and Kira Barra, who stand 5-foot-11 and 6-3, respectively. They could contribute to UMaine’s inside game.
“Maeve gets things done. She’s smart and works hard. Kira had a great practice the other day and I hope to get her in the mix,” Vachon said.
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