The state of Maine will be well represented tonight when the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Championship begins at 16 sites across the country.
Perennial powers Bowdoin College of Brunswick and the University of Southern Maine of Gorham are both in the hunt once again. The Polar Bears play host to Castleton (Vt.) State College at 7 p.m. in one of two first-round games at Merrill Gymnasium, while the Huskies travel to Amherst, Mass., for a 4 p.m. contest against Emmanuel College of Boston.
Bowdoin (24-4), under first-year coach Adrienne Shibles, earned the right to host the first two rounds by winning the New England Small College Athletic Conference’s automatic bid.
The Polar Bears have responded after losing senior standout Jill Anelauskas to an early season knee injury. Shibles was named the NESCAC Coach of the Year.
Bowdoin has won nine consecutive games, led by junior forward Leah Rubega (10.4 points, 9.5 rebounds per game) and sophomore Katie Bergeron of Bradley (10.2 ppg). The Polar Bears rank 27th among 435 Division III teams, allowing only 53.6 ppg.
The Spartans (17-11) earned the automatic bid from the North Atlantic Conference. Coach Tim Barrett’s team features a gritty senior nucleus spearheaded by point guard Jess Banks (12.4 ppg), who should be a good matchup with Bowdoin’s Maria Noucas.
Castleton’s top threats also include 3-point threat Mary Nienow (9.8 ppg) and Leeanne Ketchen (7.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg). The Spartans rank 12th in the nation in FG percentage defense (.326).
Southern Maine (22-6) claimed the Little East Conference title and automatic bid on the road last weekend. The Huskies of first-year head coach Mike McDevitt are among the top 3-point shooting teams in Division III (18th) at .367.
USM’s catalysts include senior Stacey Kent (15.5 ppg, .381 3-pt. pct.) and sophomore Kaylie DeMillo (13.1 ppg, .385 3-pt. pct.), along with junior point guard Nicole Paradis of Skowhegan (6.8 ppg, 3.3 apg).
The Huskies encounter an Emmanuel ballclub (21-7) that captured the Great Northeast Athletic Conference championship. The Saints have won six straight and 16 of their last 17.
Emmanuel has a potent offense that is averaging 69.6 ppg. Iman Davis (18.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 3.0 apg) and Kristin LeBel (16.4 ppg) are the mainstays on a squad that dishes out 16.8 assists per outing to rank 16th in the nation.
Karin Bird, a former standout at Lee Academy, has been a key contributor this season for Emmanuel.
Bird, a 5-foot-8 freshman guard from Lee, is Emmanuel’s third-leading scorer at 7.4 points per game. She has played in 26 of the Saints’ 28 games, making five starts, and is shooting a team-best 51 percent from the field and 71 percent from the foul line.
Bird also is averaging 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists.
Bird is one of four former Lee Academy classmates who played Division III basketball this season. Aarika Ritchie played at Colby College in Waterville, Amanda Gifford competed for Bates College in Lewiston and Dana Houghton played at Maine Maritime Academy in Castine.