When Jaycie Christopher was a freshman at the University of Maine, she showed a lot of promise and seemingly had a bright future for the women’s basketball program.
The 2022 Miss Maine Basketball recipient from Skowhegan High School was a valuable asset coming off the bench, averaging 4.9 points and 2.3 rebounds in 20.9 minutes of playing time per game. She had the best 3-point shooting percentage on the team among players who took at least 19 threes at 42.5%.
She shot 38.9% from the floor.
But, unfortunately for Christopher, that would be the best of her three seasons in Orono as her shooting percentages, point production and playing time dwindled due to a loss of confidence.
Last year, she shot just 26.7% from long distance, 31.5% from the floor and averaged only 2.4 points per game in 12.4 minutes per game.
She entered the transfer portal and wound up at the University of Southern Maine, where she has had a remarkable senior season.
Christopher led the 27-2 Huskies to a Little East Conference championship and a berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament’s Sweet 16.
USM, which has won its first two NCAA tourney games, has a date with 20-9 Wisconsin-La Crosse in Friday’s 5 p.m. contest hosted by New York University, winner of 89 straight games.
Christopher leads the Huskies in virtually every category including scoring (19.2 points per game), rebounds (9), assists (3.6), field goal shooting percentage (56.8), 3-point percentage (46.7) and free throw percentage (88.6).
Her 3-point shooting percentage is third best in the country among players at 413 Division III schools, her free throw shooting percentage is ninth and her field goal percentage is 12th best.
“Honestly, I never would have envisioned for this year to go this way,” said the 5-foot-11 Christopher, who plays guard and forward depending upon what is needed. “My confidence was so low at the end of last year going into this summer, I didn’t even know what kind of basketball player I was any more.
“But I knew that player was still in there somewhere, it was just a matter of finding it,” she said.
It was definitely a challenge for Christopher to regain her confidence and that loss of confidence caused her to lose passion for a sport she loves.
“I always loved the game, and I kind of lost sight of that love for a while, which made things worse for me. I wasn’t having fun because of the way I was playing,” Christopher said. “I had faced adversity before but nothing like that. It was a much different situation. I was dealing with the mental side of it more than anything. When you don’t have confidence, it’s hard to figure out why or what you can do to help it.”
She eventually regained her confidence and her passion for the game.
“It wasn’t easy. There were lots of mental hurdles to get through. This season has exceeded my expectations in every possible way,” she said. “It has been really fun.”
USM coach Dave Chadbourne said Christopher has been special and brings a number of valuable intangibles in addition to her on-court production.
“Yes, her numbers are great. She scores, she’s got assists and she rebounds and she defends. She’s spectacular,” Chadbourne said. “The consistency she has brought to the group in her work ethic and her positive nature and her unselfishness … it’s hard to quantify that. It has meant a ton to this group.”
He also said she has been a leader without even trying.
“She just naturally is. You know what’s great about her? She came and didn’t try to put her imprint on anything,” Chadbourne said. “She didn’t try to be out in front. She was fine behind the scenes and has evolved.”
Her ability and personality have come to the forefront naturally, her coach said.
“And it’s so much easier to follow somebody like Jaycie because it’s all about the group, not about her. There’s no ego at all,” Chadbourne added. “She has been so much fun to coach.”
After finding out Christopher entered the NCAA transfer portal, Chadbourne reached out to her and she and her family went for a visit to USM. Her older brother, Marcus, had played for the Huskies.
Christopher said she walked around campus with a few of the USM players who spoke highly about Chadbourne, the program and each other.
“That is what kind of sold me. Just the vibe I got from all of them. I was able to play some pickup basketball with them and it was competitive and fun,” Christopher said. “Liz Cote had told me it was truly a privilege to play here, and that’s what really sold me. I knew this was the place for me.”
Cote is a graduate student guard from Conway, New Hampshire.
“Our kids did a real good job telling her what we’re about, and it seemed to suit Jaycie,” Chadbourne said. “Thank God.”
Christopher is having as much fun playing basketball now as she ever has.
Christopher is still close with the UMaine coaches and players. She pointed out that UMaine head coach Amy Vachon and assistant Tom Biskup attended one of their NCAA Tournament games, and some of her former Black Bear teammates attended the other game.
“I still have a great relationship with everyone there. I care about them a lot,” Christopher said. “They have been super supportive of me. I want them to have success just like they want me to succeed. That’s really special, and I’m grateful for that.”
Vachon is “so happy” for Christopher.
“I am so proud of her. I know it was a really hard decision and both of us were a little heartbroken at it because we wanted it to work out here,” Vachon said. “But it was the best decision for her, and she has had an incredible senior year there and is leading her team. To see her play with such joy was amazing to watch.”
Christopher, who has been complemented nicely by sophomore guard and former Hampden Academy standout Lucy Wiles (16.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.9 apg, team-leading 55 steals), said the Huskies are going to focus on “controlling what we can control and give our best effort” on Friday night against a “good, big and very physical” Wisconsin-La Crosse team.
If the Huskies win and NYU beats Hardin-Simmons of Texas, that will set up an Elite Eight game on Saturday at 5 p.m.
NYU would be going for a 91st straight win.
“We would have a chance to end their winning streak. It’s fun to be an underdog. Every good sports movie starts with an underdog,” Christopher said.