Limestone’s Peers a starter for UMPI hoop team

    PRESQUE ISLE — It has been a rough start to the season for the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s women’s basketball team, but head coach Tracy Guerrette remains optimistic that her team will have a successful campaign.

    Entering her third season as the womens’ coach, Guerrette is looking to improve on last season’s 13-9 record, but is off to an 0-6 start. The Owls finished second in the Sunrise Conference and beat SUNY Canton in the semifinals of the Sunrise Conference tournament last year before falling to the University of Maine at Fort Kent in the championship.
    “I look at basketball as an opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of my athletes,” Guerrette said. “I desire them to grow as individuals and become better people, and basketball is just the platform that we have to do this. I want them, first and foremost, to enjoy the experience of being part of a collegiate team, feel proud to be representing the University of Maine at Presque Isle, and then working toward becoming the best basketball players that they can be.”
    With the loss of Erica Davis to graduation, coach Guerrette will need someone new to step in as the primary point scorer for the team. Davis is assisting with the team as she graduates at the end of the first semester this month. Davis led the team and the state among Division III universities in scoring, rebounding, and steals.
    The team’s strengths are chemistry, willingness to work hard every day in practice and coachability.
    “One area that we need to focus on more this year, which may be a strength, is to get more people scoring in double digits,” the coach said. “ Last year, we relied too heavily on one or two people to do all of our scoring.”
    The starting five this year features point guard, Megan Korhonen (Littleton), shooting guard Emily Pelletier (Fort Kent), guard Emily Moore (Lisbon), forward Julie Peers (Caswell) and forward/center Mindy Sullivan (Lisbon).
    “Meg’s a junior, who’s natural position in on the wing, but [she] has had to step up into the point guard role since her freshman year,” coach Guerrette said. “Meg has good court sense, poise, and a knowledge of the game.”
    Pelletier, a freshman, could be a big spark for the Owls this year.
    “Emily’s passion for the game is very evident in practice and games because she has an intensity to her play,” the coach said. “She’s my best shooter on the floor. In her first weekend as a collegiate player, she shot 50 percent from the three [point line].”
    Moore, a sophomore who started last year as a freshman, is a defensive specialist.
    “Emily is definitely my slasher/driver, who is always looking to attack the basket,” coach Guerrette said. “Her game is either taking the ball to the basket, or shooting off the dribble.  Emily is also my defensive stopper, as she is one of the best defenders on the team.”
    Peers, a junior and former high school player at Limestone, is returning to the court after a two-year absence from the game.
    “Julie is such a pleasure to have on the team,” Guerrette said. “She adds a lot to our team. She is very fundamental, coachable and solid on both ends of the court. Julie is, so far, my best post defender, as she plays bigger than her height.”
    Sullivan, a senior, has grown tremendously on the court during her time with UMPI.
    “Mindy’s overall game has improved dramatically over the past three years as I have had the pleasure of coaching her,” the coach said. “Her knowledge and skill are 110 percent improved and it’s because of her dedication, hard work, and positive encouraging attitude.”
    The Owls have a tough first half of the season, matching up against teams such as UMaine Farmington, Maine Maritime, Saint Joe’s College of Maine, Colby College, and USM.
    “I believe that to be the best, we have to play the best,” Guerrette said.“Because of our challenging schedule, I know that we’ll be ready for conference play which begins in January.”