Lady Owls look to pick up pace

By Joseph Cyr
Sports Editor
    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 0-4 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.
UMPI WOMEN –  Members of the University of Maine at Presque Isle women’s basketball team are, in front from left, Lainey Herring, Emily Pelletier, Emily Moore, Megan Korhonen, Kallie Pelletier and Kayla Fleming. Back row, coach Tracy Guerrette, Taylor Ussery, Kathy Kilfoil, Mindy Sullivan, Karen Creighton, Julie Peers, student assistant Matt Campbell and student assistant Erica Davis.
    “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. My athletes have a lot of potential to be great players, and my job as a coach is to teach and motivate them to hopefully reach that potential.”
    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. She is the coach on the court for us and does a great job leading the team by example, as one of my hardest workers on the team. She runs the offense well, and is more of a penetrator/creator than set shooter.”
    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]. She is very coachable; solid on both ends of the court and has a good knowledge of the game.  I’m looking to Emily to step into an impact role immediately as a scorer for us.”
    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. Emily also relieves Megan at the point guard position. Emily also has a passion and love for the game, always intense and working hard – she is very coachable.”
    Peers, a junior, 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.  She’s a strong player for us and battles everyday down in the post, offensively and defensively.  I’m looking to Mindy to step up her game even more, and transfer the success that she has in practice onto the court in game situations.”
    UMPI will also get a boost in the second semester with the addition of Loghan Walker, a point guard from Mt. Abram High School, who may step in as the team’s point guard, allowing Korhonen to move to her natural spot on the wing.
    Sullivan and Korhonen will serve as captains of the Owls this year.
    Korhonen had a game-high 17 points, including 8-for-9 shooting from the foul-line, and added five rebound and three assists, as the Owls fell 73-46 to Colby College at home in Wieden Gymnasium Saturday.
    E.Pelletier set a career and season-high of 14 points for the Owls, while senior captain Sullivan grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds and added seven points.
    UMPI lost by a 49-36 score in its home opener last Tuesday.  The Owls were led by senior Kathy Kilfoil with 10 points. Korhonen added eight points, while Pelletier chipped in with seven points, going 4-4 from the line and also dishing out three assists.
    “Even though the team is 0-6 at this point in the season, I am pleased with how far we’ve come since October,” said Guerrette. “We have a very challenging pre-conference schedule and that’s they way I like it because to be the best, you have to play the best. My team is full of potential, and I have full confidence and belief that we will be ready to go for Sunrise Conference play.”
    The Owls return to action Jan. 2 and 3 as they head to the University of Southern Maine Husky Invitational Tournament in Gorham. The Owls will take on host USM Jan. 2 for a 4:30 p.m. game.