The University of Maine women’s basketball team will not participate in the America East basketball championships this week, following the aftermath of the team’s bus accident on I-95 in Massachusetts last Tuesday.

Athletic Director Steve Abbott and Coach Richard Barron talked with players Monday before making the decision to end the season, rather than travel to Albany, N.Y., — about 400 miles away — for the tournament that starts Friday.

Maine was scheduled to play top-seeded Albany, which is unbeaten in the conference.

The bus accident occurred when Maine was traveling to Boston for a game against Boston University. That game was canceled, but the Black Bears did play their season finale at home Saturday against New Hampshire, with only eight players in uniform. Maine lost 86-63, and ends its season with a 4-24 record.

“It has been a difficult time for these student-athletes following the accident,” said Robert Dana, vice president for student affairs and dean of students, in a statement. “Our focus has been and continues to be the health and well-being of these players in their athletic and academic lives. Knowing students as I do and having consulted with experts, my recommendation to President (Paul) Ferguson, AD Abbott and Coach Barron is that the UMaine women’s basketball team end its season to spend this time continuing to recuperate.

“They are back in the UMaine community and that’s what matters. Seeing them back on the road for the tournament would have been difficult and not in their best interest.”

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Freshman Milica Mitrovic sustained a broken hand in the bus crash, adding to the Black Bears’ long list of injuries this season. Four others players — Corinne Wellington, Ali Navaika, Danielle Walczak and Anna Heise — were already out of the lineup because of injuries.

 

(1) BAYLOR 90, KANSAS STATE 68: Brittney Griner scored a Big 12 single-game record 50 points in her final regular-season game at Baylor — including her first dunk at home since she was a freshman — to lead the top-ranked Lady Bears (29-1, 18-0 Big 12) to a win at Waco, Texas.

 

(2) NOTRE DAME 96, (3) CONNECTICUT 87: Skylar Diggins scored 29 points and sparked a decisive run in the third overtime at South Bend, Ind., as Notre Dame (28-1, 16-0) won the Big East regular-season title outright for the second straight year.

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

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ST. JOSEPH’S 17, HUSSON 3: Cassie Diplock, Macy Pagurko and Taylor Allison each scored three goals as the Monks (2-0) overpowered the visiting Eagles (0-1) at Deering High in Portland.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

(4) KANSAS 79, TEXAS TECH 42: Jeff Withey scored 22 points and every senior had a big night at their last home game, leading the Jayhawks (26-4, 14-3 Big 12) to a win at Lawrence, Kan.

Kevin Young had 14 points and Ben McLemore and Travis Releford added 13 apiece for Kansas.

 

(8) LOUISVILLE 67, CINCINNATI 51: Russ Smith scored 18 points and Louisville (25-5, 13-4 Big East) gave Rick Pitino his 300th victory with the Cardinals by beating the Bearcats (20-10, 8-9) at Louisville, Ky.

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WOMEN’S HOCKEY

Bowdoin will play an NCAA Division III quarterfinal home against Elmira College at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Tickets will go on sale starting at 8 a.m., Tuesday, in the Athletic Department office on the second floor of the Peter Buck Center.

SOFTBALL

WESTERN MICHIGAN 4, MAINE 0: Sabrina Gamboa had a two-run homer to propel the Broncos (6-11) past the Black Bears (1-9) at Clearwater, Fla.

Kristen Koslosky had Maine’s only hit.

 


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