Husson University women’s basketball coach Kissy Walker thought sophomore forward Saige Evans would have a good season this winter.
But she admitted that she didn’t anticipate her having as good a season as she is having.
The former Old Town High School star is currently tied for 11th in the nation among players from 413 Division III schools in double-doubles with 16. And her four offensive rebounds per game ties her for 40th.
She is averaging 9.8 rebounds which is 65th.
She has also averaged a team-leading 16.5 points per game.
“The most impressive thing has been her consistency. You don’t see that a lot in sophomores,” said Walker, whose team will entertain the University of Maine Farmington in a North Atlantic Conference semifinal on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. in the Newman Gym.
Evans has scored in double figures in 24 of Husson’s 25 games including the last 23. She has scored at least 15 points on 15 occasions. She has had at least 12 rebounds in eight of the 16 games she has reached double-digits in rebounds.
“She’s a workhorse. She worked on her game over the summer. She’s very coachable,” Walker said.
“I played against good local competition in the summer and that has definitely helped me improve my game. I put in extra work in the offseason,” said Evans whose list of local competition includes Bowdoin College leading scorer and second leading rebounder Abbie,Quinn, UMaine guard Emmie Streams and Evans’ Husson teammate, Laela Martinez, who leads the Eagles in assists and steals.
Rebounding is something she takes pride in and she often finds herself matched up against taller post players.
She is listed at 5-foot-11 on the Husson roster but Evans said that’s not quite right.
“I’m not even 5-10. I’m about 5-9 and three quarters,” Evans said.
“It’s a skill I’ve always worked on. I was taught from a young age that every time a shot goes up, if they miss it, it can be a pass for you if you go and get it. That has always been my mindset,” said Evans, who compensates for her lack of size with her tenacity, athleticism and positioning. “It’s definitely hard work, determination and rebounding for your players in practice. Learn their tendencies and it helps you know where to go.”
Evans has been named the NAC Player of the Week six times and has been the Maine Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s player of the week or shared player of the week honors three times.
She averaged seven points and 5.7 rebounds a year ago but eventually worked her way into the starting lineup because of her consistency, according to Walker.
Walker said she believes Evans should receive serious consideration for the NAC’s Player of the Year honor.
“We have such a young team and when it comes to the numbers she has been putting up against all the teams in the conference, she’s at the top,” said Walker.
One of the major improvements she has made in her game has been expanding her shooting range.
“In high school, she played mostly inside,” said Walker. “But she’s played more on the perimeter and become very comfortable taking that outside shot.”
“We lost seven seniors off last year’s team who were really vital to our success,” said Evans. “So I knew us returning players had to step up. Part of my game I had to definitely improve was my shooting so I put in a lot of hours on it. I put a lot of shots up.”
The Eagles, who are 17-8 overall, went 15-3 in the conference and earned the second seed despite losing those seven seniors and having 11 freshmen and sophomores on their roster.
Evans, who was also a very good soccer player and softball player at Old Town, said she has been “extremely happy” with the season to date.
“Coming into the season, not a lot of people thought we could finish in the top two with such a young team. It’s a testament to our work that we finished near the top,” said Evans, a former Bangor Daily News All-Maine Schoolgirl first team selection. “We’ve exceeded our own expectations. It’s been really exciting to see what we can do and have fun on the court.”
Husson split its two games with UMF during the regular season and Evans expects a “really competitive game.
“They’re a great team with really good team chemistry,” Evans said. “We know we have to focus on the little things and play our game and, hopefully, we’ll be fine.”
Sophomore guard Lilly Roy from Wisdom High in St. Agatha is Husson’s second-leading scorer at 14.6 ppg and she has also averaged 4.1 rebounds.
UMF is led by sophomore guard Jaydn Pingree (15 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.2 assists per game) and junior guard-forward Jessica Dow (12 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.9 steals, 2.7 assists).