The University of Maine at Presque Isle basketball program was well represented when some recent post-season honors were announced
Olivia McNally, a senior from Sherman, was named to the USCAA women’s basketball Div. I All-American first team and also was named to the Great South Athletic Conference all-conference team.
McNally, a 5-4 guard, averaged 16 points per game, shot 39.3 percent from three-point range and 81 percent from the foul line. She also averaged 3.5 assists, 4.9 rebounds and two steals per contest in leading the Owls to an 18-8 record. Her best game was against St. Joseph’s of Vermont as she scored 31 points while hitting five of eight three-point field goal attempts. She also had six rebounds, six assists and five steals in the game.
“Liv was our heart and soul,” said UMPI head coach Doug Carter. “She worked so hard making herself an impact player at this level. I am so proud of her and blessed to have had such a special young lady who helped lead our team this year.”
Carter himself was recognized as the GSAC coach of the year. In his first season with the Owls, the team had its first winning season in five years and improved its win total by 10 from the 2012-13 campaign.
“I would like to thank my GSAC coaching peers. There are many outstanding coaches in this conference and I am extremely honored and humbled with this award.” Carter added. “I was blessed to have a tremendous group of young ladies come together to bring pride back into a basketball program that has had its fair share of challenges over the last few years.”
Carter guided the Owls to the fourth seed in the GSAC tournament. He joined UMPI last fall after serving as an assistant at the University of the Cumberlands (UC), which was ranked nationally as high as No. 5 in NAIA Division I basketball, winning the regular season and Mid-South Conference (MSC) championships in 2012.
Freshman player Kristin Thompson of Medway was named to the all-freshman team for the conference. She averaged 6.4 points and 4.6 rebounds while starting 19 games for the Owls.
Michael Warner of the UMPI men’s team also garnered a pair of prestigious honors. He was named to the Association of Division III Independents all-independent first team and also was named to the USCAA men’s basketball Div. I All-American second team.
Warner, a 6-3 senior captain from Norwich, United Kingdom led the Owls in scoring at 15.5 ppg and was among the nation’s top three-point marksmen, hitting on 46.9 percent. He also snared 5.8 rebounds per game and shot 84.5 percent from the foul line.
He scored in double figures 18 times during the 2013-14 season.
“Mike has worked hard during the course of his career to become a complete player and he is most deserving of this honor,” noted UMPI head coach Jim Casciano. “I am thrilled for him. Mike is a true student-athlete.”
Teammates Thiago Conceicao and Chase Vicaire were also recognized with AD3I honors. Conceicao, a freshman from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, made the second team. He led the association with a 65.6 field goal percentage and averaged 13.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Vicaire received AD3I honorable mention. The sophomore from Mattawamkeag was UMPI’s second-leading scorer, averaging 14.4 ppg, while shooting three-pointers at a 37.6 percent clip. He also averaged 2.7 assists and 1.7 steals for the Owls.
