ORONO, Maine — Adrianna Smith was a remarkable success story for the University of Maine women’s basketball team a year ago, going from averaging 7.1 minutes of playing time per game as a freshman two years ago to being named the America East Player of the Year.
She has followed that up with an even better season this year in helping lead the Black Bears to a date with Vermont at 5 p.m. Friday night in the America East championship game at UMaine’s Memorial Gym.
Although she has scored fewer points per game this season (16.6 compared with 17.9 last season), she has grabbed more rebounds (11 compared with 9.5) and dished out more assists (4.8 compared with 3.5).
Her 22 double-doubles are fourth most in the country among players at 349 Division I school and set an America East and school record.
Even though she is virtually always smaller than the opponents’ post players, the 5-foot-11 Smith overcomes her size deficiency with her grit, tenacity and work ethic. Her 11 rebounds per game are 10th best in the nation. In addition to rebounding, she also leads America East in assists (4.8).
She was chosen to the All-America East first team for the second straight year. Teammate Anne Simon, a graduate student guard, was the America East Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.
“[Smith] has been more efficient this year,” said UMaine coach Amy Vachon. “Her decision-making has been better. Last year, there were times when she felt like she had to do everything in a lot of different ways.”
Vachon also called Smith a “winner.
“All she wants to do is win. She doesn’t care if she scores 20 points and doesn’t score at all,” said Vachon.
Smith is shooting 42.7 percent from the floor and has made nine 3-pointers, seven more than she had hit in her first two seasons combined. She is also shooting 76.6 percent from the free throw line.
Smith takes pride in her assists, especially when she is double-teamed and is able to feed a pass to an open teammate.
“I’m happy whenever my teammates make a big three [a pass],” said Smith. “I love it. That feeling is so great. It’s disrespectful when a team takes a player off [guarding] one of our players [to double-team me].”
She said it has been different adapting to double-teams but said she’s prepared for it.
“I have a feel for other options. If they put two on me, someone else is open,” said Smith, who has had 15 games with at least five assists.
A double-double usually means 10 or more points and rebounds per game, but she has had two games with her double-double being points and assists and one where it was assists and rebounds.
Smith said it is “great” to have the America East and school records in double-doubles during a season and said one reason she has been able to 22 games with at least 10 rebounds is her teammates.
“We have a lot of good rebounders on our team. [Opponents] can’t only be focused on me so that opens up stuff for me,” she said.
“Adi has been huge for us,” said Simon. “She’s amazing. You know what you’re going to get from her every night. She puts the work in. You can rely on her, offensively and defensively.”
“She does such a good job getting to the rim but she also does a good job of passing,” said senior forward Caroline Bornemann. “She’s an all around player. She has been great.”
Coming into the season, one of Smith’s goals was to improve her defense and she feels she has done just that.
“That’s something I had really struggled with,” said Smith. “But we’ve made some changes that have put me in good position, defensively, like fronting. I’ve been reading the floor [better].”
“She really has improved, defensively,” said Vachon. “We talked about that a lot in the offseason. That had to be a focus of hers.”
Coming to Orono from her native Reston, Virginia, took an adjustment. Reston has 62,000 people compared with Orono’s 10,000.
“It’s different. It’s a lot quieter here and it’s a slower pace of life. I like the people up here. They have made it a great experience. I’m happy with my decision, for sure,” Smith said.
The regular season champion Black Bears will be looking for their first America East Tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth since the 2018-19 season on Friday against the defending tournament champion Catamounts.
“They’re a very good team. It’s exciting getting to play the defending champs,” said Smith. “It’s going to be a great game. I’m glad we’re at home.
“I can’t wait to experience that,” she said.
