Posted: Feb 19, 2014
AUGUSTA, Maine – For the fourth consecutive season, the University of Maine at Augusta women's basketball team is headed to the post-season, but this time the Moose do so with the highest national ranking in school history.
In the latest United States Collegiate Athletic Association Coaches' poll, UMA is ranked tenth in the nation in Women's Division II, jumping up two spots from the week before.
"Our team is really hitting their stride," Head Coach Jennifer Laney said. "We are looking to continue to play at our highest level heading into this weekend's tournament."
Laney's team enters the Yankee Small College Conference Elite Eight tournament as the third seed after finishing the regular season with a 13-9 record and a 9-5 mark in the conference. The Moose are 5-1 in their last six games and will face off against the University of Maine at Machias Thursday afternoon at 2:00 at Southern Maine Community College.
The Moose own the season series against Machias 2-0, with the most recent win coming on December 10 when the Moose won 82-60.
UMA is ranked third in the YSCC in scoring (72.3ppg) and boasts three of the top five scorers in the league. Sophomore Arreonte Lee (San Antonio, Tex.) led the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 21 points per game and 11.5 rebounds. Junior Jennifer Lola (Monmouth, Maine) averaged 19.2 points per game for the Moose, and ranked fourth in the YSCC in three-point percentage.
"The tenacity of this team is just incredible," Laney said. "No matter the challenges they have faced, they have only become stronger and more united."
Freshman Jamie Plummer turned in a stellar freshman campaign, averaging 18.8 points per game and led the conference in blocked shots (2.6pg). Defensively, the Moose are led by freshman Courtney Jicks (Lake Charles, La.) and sophomore Angelica Bulgin (Lisbon, Maine). Jicks sacrifices her body for every loose ball on the court, while averaging just under two steals and ten points per game. Bulgin, who stars on the cross country team, has used her speed and quickness to deliver defensive pressure. The Moose have also been aided by late season additions Haley Madore (Winslow, Maine) and sophomore Kim Carter (Princeton, Maine).
The Elite Eight Tournament is hosted by Southern Maine Community College in South Portland, Maine. For more information on tournament times or to find out how you can watch the games online, please visit www.yankeeconference.org.