PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The University of Maine at Presque Isle Owls will look to five returning players to help lead the six newcomers on the roster this season as the women’s basketball team looks to improve on a 9-15 record from a year ago.
A new face also will serve as the head coach as Gavin Kane steps in to lead the Owls. Kane has spent time as an assistant at the University of Maine and the University of Maine at Farmington.
He also has seen success coaching at the high school level, having won 17 conference championships, 12 Western Maine championships and seven state championships, and has accumulated an overall record of 522-117. Kane will be joined on the sidelines by assistant coach Matt Clark, who also is in his first year with the Owls.
Brianna Losee, a senior from Pittsfield, is the only fourth-year player on the roster. The guard did not put up big numbers last year, averaging just 2.7 points per game, and hopes to recapture the success she experienced as a sophomore when she averaged 7.8 ppg.
Senior Jessy Dickison of Houlton returns for her third year with the team and is a defensive leader on the floor. Dickison averaged 25 minutes a season ago, and helps lead the Owls with her high energy style of play.
Teagan Laweryson, a senior from Moscow, Maine, transferred to UMPI two seasons ago and has proven to be a valuable asset. Laweryson shot 30.6 percent from the three-point line last season and will look for more opportunities to help the Owls with her outside shooting ability.
The team also returns two sophomores. Emilia Churchill of Washburn averaged 4.1 ppg while being tasked to run the offense as a point guard last season. Rhylee Wright of Frenchville came on strong in the second half of last season and will look to pick up where she left off. Wright ended the season averaging 9.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.
The Owls will add two new faces to their backcourt group as Mariah Lefleur, a sophomore from Hartford, and Marissa Reagle, a freshman from Seattle, Washington, look to make an impact.
Adding size and depth to the frontcourt will be Laura Aroz, a sophomore from Tucson, Arizona; Kendra Silvers, a freshman from North Berwick; Chelsea Winiarski, a junior from Danforth, and Ines Ngoga, a freshman from Rwanda, Africa.
The Owls opened with losses to Central Maine Community College and UM-Machias. UMPI plays its first home game Sunday, Nov. 26, at noon against Becker College.
The next time the Owls will be home is the CAN/AM Tournament Jan. 4 and 5. They also host CMCC on Jan. 13; Pine Manor College of Newton, Massachusetts, Jan. 15; UM-Machias, Jan. 24; Fisher College of Boston, Jan. 28; UM-Fort Kent, Feb. 2, and the College of St. Joseph of Rutland, Vermont, on Feb. 10.
