The question surrounding the University of Maine’s women’s basketball team this season has been who can provide valuable supplemental scoring when reigning America East Player of the Year Adrianna Smith and/or 2021-22 AE Player of the Year Anne Simon can’t play, get in foul trouble or have an off night?
Senior guard and 3-point specialist Olivia Rockwood has been providing it lately.
With conference scoring leader Simon sidelined by a sprained ankle last Saturday, Rockwood came off the bench to score a career-high 24 points on eight 3-pointers, which is also a career-best, in a 70-58 road win at Bryant University (R.I.).
“That was pretty cool,” said the 5-foot-7 native of Windsor, Vermont whose 17 3-point attempts tied the school record.
She has scored in double figures four times over her last seven games and is averaging 9.4 points per game. She has scored 66 points over those seven games which is the most she has scored during a seven-game span during her career.
She has shot 44 percent from the floor (22-for-50) and an even more impressive 45.4 percent beyond the 3-point arc (20-for-44).
Through her first 13 games this season, she averaged only 4.8 points per game and was shooting 29.7 percent from the floor and 25.9 percent from long distance.
She missed three games in the middle of the season with a lower leg injury.
Rockwood, who has taken 98 3-pointers and just 16 2-pointers, said you can’t dwell on a poor shooting night.
“You can’t let it get to you. You just have to keep shooting, especially since that’s my primary role on the court,” said Rockwood, who averaged a career-high 6.8 points per game last season. “I can’t stop shooting. I would be letting my teammates down because I wouldn’t be able to contribute.”
Rockwood didn’t feel any additional pressure with Simon on the sideline.
“I can’t let it get into my head that I have to go out and do so much better, get more shots up, drive (to the basket) more. I just have to keep playing like I’ve been playing and things will come,” Rockwood said.
She said UMaine head coach Amy Vachon encourages her to shoot when she’s open and that’s what she’s been doing.
“I have been taking good shots and my teammates have been getting me the ball in good (shooting) positions. So all I can do is try to knock them down for them,” Rockwood said.
“She’s a great shooter,” said junior forward Smith, adding that when Rockwood hits outside shots it opens up inside opportunities. “All of us on the team know that so we always pass her the ball.”
Rockwood said she benefits from the efficiency the Black Bears have displayed when running their offense.
“It’s definitely one of our best assets,” said Rockwood. “We’re able to move the ball and get open shots. Sometimes they don’t fall but we know they will fall eventually so we have to keep taking those open shots.”
Rockwood is cognizant of how important it is for the whole team to contribute instead of relying on Smith and Simon.
“We all play together really well. We know our roles and what we need to do to win a game,” said Rockwood. “Anne and Addi are going out there and do their thing and we have to do what we can to help them.”
Vachon said Rockwood is consistent on both sides of the ball.
“You know what you are going to get with her when she’s on the court,” said Vachon. “She got hurt for a little bit and it took her a couple games to get back into it but she has found her stride and is doing great. She’s really steady.”
Rockwood has worked hard on her defense, saying “I know it’s really important for me to get stops and keep people in front of me. It’s something I try to focus on.”
“Her defense has gotten better,” said Vachon.
Rockwood has another year of eligibility due to the Covid year and plans to return for a fifth season.
“I love the team dynamic and the people I’m around every day. We spend a lot of time together but I wouldn’t want to spend it with anyone else,” said Rockwood, who scored a Windsor High School record 1,873 points (boys and girls) and was the Vermont Gatorade Player of the Year.
Rockwood and her teammates, sporting an overall record of 15-8 record and an 8-1 America East mark, will entertain arch-rival New Hampshire (9-14, 3-7) at 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Memorial Gym in Orono. It will be part of the National Girls and Women in Sports Day celebration that will kick off with an Interactive Sports Fair in the New Balance Field House from noon until 1:30.
UMaine continues to be led by Simon (17.4 points per game, 7.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.5 steals) and Smith (16.6 ppg, 11 rpg, 4.4 apg, 16 double-doubles) along with senior forward Caroline Bornemann (8.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg).
Simon’s status is up in the air according to Vachon.
The youthful Wildcats, 71-68 losers to Bryant on Thursday night, are paced by sophomore guards Breezie Williams (7.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.3 apg) and Avery O’Connor (7.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg) and senior guard Adara Groman (7.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg).
UMaine topped UNH 78-52 on Jan. 11 in Durham, N.H.