UMF women's basketball team more seasoned, versatile in 2018-19

Senior center Paige Carter goes through a drill at UMF’s Dearborn Gymnasium in Farmington during the preseason. (Tony Blasi/Sun Journal)

FARMINGTON — The 2018-19 season brings depth, flexibility and the addition of new teams — which could all add up to a prosperous year for the University of Maine at Farmington women’s basketball team.

The Beavers also have other things going for them. McKenna Brodeur has recovered from a leg injury, and UMF is bigger and a seasoned crew that took its lumps the past year.

This also means UMF women’s basketball coach Jamie Beaudoin has flexibility with lineups for each contest.

“Last year, when McKenna was out, we played a lot of four-guards and it kind of forced one of our guards to do some post play, as well as play a lot more zone than we used to,” Beaudoin said. “This year there is more potential for lineups because we are a little bigger. So that means shifting players … that means McKenna play a lot more on the perimeter.”

All those shifts in a lineup might give other guards more freedom to go about their business on the court.

“Our weakness in terms of guard play is handling pressure,” Beaudoin said. “I just kind of think that’s the way the game is right now.

“If you have a really good point guard, and someone that you are super-confident with, they can get you into offense, but with the shot clock and all those things that come into play now, with the game in a 10-second count, us getting the ball into offense could be a challenge.”

The Beavers’ senior contingent includes center Paige Carter and guards Haley Felkel and Morgan Crocker.

“They all bring different elements to our game,” Beaudoin said. “I think they are really going to help lead us.

“Morgan is a driver. She has great heart when she goes to shoot. She has a great perimeter shot when she decides to shoot it. She will get a lot of attention from teams trying their best to defend her. Haley is a great shooter. She is a great passer. She can create her owns shots off the dribble, which is a challenging thing, but she is able to do it. Paige Carter is just a hard worker who has developed her game. She is great defensive player with long arms.”

There are four freshmen who give the Beavers added depth.

“Halee Ramdsdell is a transfer. She is from Wells,” Beaudoin said. “She is a post player. She is another player like Paige with long arms and I am very impressed with her. She has been away from the game for a year and I think it is going take some time. I think she will add some things for us.

“Makayla Wilson is a guard from Messalonskee and played on the state championship team with McKenna as a junior. She has the ability to play on the ball, off the ball. Molly Folsom is a guard/forward. Her strength is shooting the ball 15, 18 feet. Hannah Anderson is a guard from Monmouth. (She played in) two straight championships … has some confidence, good defender.”

Beaudoin sees the addition of teams in the North Atlantic Conference as new start.

“We are still playing in the NAC, but there are new teams, so the schedule will be a little bit different,” Beaudoin said. “Every game is a goal to get better and compete.”