Caroline Bornemann never envisioned scoring over 1,000 points and grabbing more than 700 rebounds in her University of Maine women’s basketball career when she first stepped on campus in 2000.
“I didn’t know what to expect going into it. I had a very open mind to be honest. I was just happy to be here,” said Bornemann on Tuesday.
Head coach Amy Vachon has certainly been happy to have her in Orono.
Entering Thursday’s America East 6 p.m. quarterfinal game against the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Bornemann is one of just eight players in program history to achieve those milestones.
She has scored 1,142 points and corralled 727 rebounds over her 135-game career.
She is 18th on the program’s career all-time scoring list and ninth in rebounds.
The graduate student is having the best season of her career, averaging 12.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. She is America East’s fifth-leading scorer and second-best rebounder.
She was chosen to the All-America East first team, the first time she has earned a spot on an all-league team.
She has scored in double digits 17 times in 29 games and has posted 10 double-doubles.
And the Horsholm, Denmark native has had to adjust to a different role as the team’s center, replacing 2022-23 America East Player of the Year and two-time All-AE first teamer Adrianna Smith, who was lost for the season due to a knee injury.
“She has been put in a spot this year that no one expected her to be in,” said Vachon. “She isn’t a post player but has been our [center]. She has had to do so many different things for us and she has done them really well.”
Bornemann pointed out that she had spent her first four seasons playing on the perimeter and now is spending most of her time in the paint. She said that has meant having the ball in her hands more, which has been fun.
“Earlier in her career, she looked at herself as a 3-point shooter,” Vachon explained. “But she has really evolved her game to become much more versatile than that.”
Vachon added that it’s “hard to take her off the court for a lot of reasons. Her defending and rebounding are critical to our team.”
The slender, 5-foot-10 Bornemann said it has “definitely been interesting” adjusting to the new role.
“It’s a different position. It’s very sad about what happened [to Smith]. It has been a new challenge for me,” Bornemann said.
She admitted that it has been difficult at times.
“I’ve had my ups and downs with it,” Bornemann said. “But the coaching staff has been really good helping me with it and my teammates have been good at instilling confidence in me,” Bornemann said.
“She has handled it great,” said UMaine graduate student guard Olivia Rockwood. “She has always had a post presence even though she wasn’t necessarily a [center]. She has taken that role on and given us everything she has.”
“She’s a great leader,” said junior guard Sarah Talon. “She works her butt off on both ends of the floor.”
Bornemann has averaged 8.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game over her career, 9.1 and 5.8 if you take out her freshman season when she played only 39 minutes.
“She will take on any role the team needs and do it the best she can,” said senior guard Paula Gallego.
Bornemann feels she has improved every year thanks to the coaches and has cherished her time in Orono.
“I can’t put into words how much I’ve appreciated these five years,” said Bornemann.
Bornemann and her teammates would like to extend their season by beating NJIT in Thursday’s playoff matchup.
But they know it won’t be easy.
The teams split during the regular season with each holding serve at home.
UMaine triumphed 71-58 on Jan. 16 and NJIT posted a 61-56 win on Feb. 6.
UMaine is 14-15 overall and 9-7 in the conference while NJIT is 11-18 and 8-8, respectively.
“They like to play fast and have a lot of guards who can shoot and attack the rim,” said Vachon. “[Alejandra] Zuniga is a tremendous guard. We’re going to have to see if we can slow her down. She always plays really well against us.”
She also said her team is going to have to protect the ball.
Zuniga averaged 23 points in their two games against the Black Bears but Bornemann averaged 28 in the matchups, including a career-high 34 in Orono.
Junior Zuniga is third in the conference in scoring (16.1 ppg) and assists (3.4) and is a first team All-AE selection.
Highlanders guard Olivia Kulyk was chosen the league’s Rookie of the Year and an All-America East third teamer. She is averaging 9.9 points per game and is second in the conference in 3-pointers made per game (1.8) behind teammate Enya Maguire (2). Maguire is averaging 7.2 ppg, 4 rpg and 2.5 apg.
NJIT Senior forward Trinity Williams was chosen to the All-Defensive Team after leading the conference in blocked shots (1.6). She is 10th in rebounds (5.3) and 11th in points (10).
Complementing Bornemann for UMaine have been America East Sixth Player of the Year Caroline Dotsey (10.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg), All-America East third team guard Gallego, who is second in the league in assists (3.6) while also averaging 7.9 points and 4.4 rebounds, and junior guard Asta Blauenfeldt (9.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.6 steals).
UMaine and NJIT will play their America East quarterfinal game on Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Skip Chappelle Court in the Memorial Gym in Orono.
