University of Maine sophomore basketball forward Caroline Dotsey went from playing a total of 78 minutes her freshman season to being named the recipient of the America East Sixth Player of the Year Award this past season.
But she will likely be taking her hardware to a new destination after announcing on social media that she has decided to enter the NCAA transfer portal.
“I am extremely grateful for my time at the University of Maine,” Dotsey wrote in a post on the social media platform X.
“The past two years have taught me invaluable lessons and provided me with friendships that I will cherish forever,” said Dotsey. “To my coaches, teammates, family, friends and fans who have supported me throughout this journey — thank you for everything.”
UMaine head coach Amy Vachon preferred not to comment on Dotsey’s potential departure at this time, according to a UMaine Athletics spokesperson.
Dotsey wasn’t the only Black Bear to enter the transfer portal this week. Former Miss Maine Basketball and Gatorade Player of the Year Jaycie Christopher has also decided to test the transfer portal waters according to On3.com, a media and technology company that tracks transfers in college athletics.
With two-time All-America East first team forward and 2022-23 league Player of the Year Adrianna Smith and top incoming recruit Maddie Fitzpatrick both sidelined for the season due to knee surgeries, Dotsey was thrust into a more prominent role and had an impressive campaign.
Dotsey produced an average of 9.7 points and 2.9 rebounds per game while averaging 17.8 minutes of playing time per game. She was tied for second on the team in scoring with Asta Blauenfeldt.
She shot 41.8 percent from the floor and 35.5 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.
She scored in double figures 14 times including a career-high 30 in a 65-54 win at New Hampshire on Jan. 30.
She played in all 31 games with one start.
In 16 conference regular season games, the 6-foot-2 native of Havertown, Pa. averaged 10.2 points and three rebounds per game and shot 43.2 percent from the floor and 34.5 percent from long distance.
Christopher, a junior, had a solid freshman season but struggled her next two campaigns and her playing time dwindled.
She averaged 20.9 minutes of playing time as a freshman and produced 4.9 points and 2.3 rebounds per game while shooting 38.9 percent from the floor and 42.5 percent the 3-point arc.
She averaged 13.1 minutes as a sophomore along with 2.9 ppg, and 1.1 rpg and shot 32 percent and 34.1 percent, respectively.
This past season, she shot 31.5 percent and 26.7 percent, respectively and averaged 2.4 points and 1.3 rebounds while playing an average of 12.4 minutes per contest.
Smith and Fitzpatrick will be back next season and highly-touted 6-foot-3 forward/center Bailey Breen from South Thomaston, who played for prestigious Montverde Academy in Florida this past season, headlines the five-member incoming class.
Joining Breen in the incoming class are Mackenzie Mori from Wethersfield, Conn.; Abby Price from Boca Raton, Fla., Wheeling, West Virginia native Ashlynne ‘Lala’ Woods and Olivia Alvarez Tirado from Spain.
Mori is a guard-forward while the other three are guards.
UMaine will lose six players off this past season’s team, which went 15-16 overall and 9-7 in league play and lost to regular season champion Albany in the league semifinals.
The biggest loss will be All-America East first teamer Caroline Bornemann, who concluded her outstanding career as just the eighth player in program history to score over 1,000 points (1,162) and grab over 700 rebounds (743).