Maddie Fitzpatrick doesn’t know what her role will be for the University of Maine women’s basketball team this season.
After missing her entire freshman season due to a knee injury suffered during a summer practice session, the two-time Maine Gatorade Player of the Year said Thursday that she’s grateful to be practicing again.
“I’ll do whatever the team needs me to do. I just want to win games,” the Cumberland native and former Cheverus High of Portland star said.
She underwent knee surgery to repair torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments and her medial meniscus.
“Go big or go home,” Fitzpatrick quipped about the severity of her injury.
Fitzpatrick, who is a redshirt freshman with four years of eligibility, had an exemplary career at Cheverus. That concluded with her being named Miss Maine Basketball for the 2023-24 high school season. She averaged 23 points, 11.3 rebounds, 4.9 steals and 4.7 assists her senior year to lead Cheverus to a 22-0 campaign and Class AA state title.
It was her second state title in three years.
She was the first Lady Stag to eclipse the 1,000-point mark for her career.
Fitzpatrick said her knee feels “really good” after the recovery.
“It feels like it used to,” she said. “That’s all I could ask for.”
The 5-foot-11 Fitzpatrick was a model of versatility at Cheverus.
She was used as a post player, a point guard and a wing by Cheverus head coach Bill Goodman — and she excelled at all of them.
It was hard for Fitzpatrick to sit out the year, but she noted that she had a “great support system around me” and learned a lot by being around the team.
“I was able to see what a college season was like compared to a high school season. It’s completely different,” she said. “It was a year of adjustments for me. It was good, still.”
UMaine head coach Amy Vachon said Fitzpatrick is doing a great job. Vachon said people will need to understand that Fitzpatrick is like a freshman as she comes off the knee injury and works to understand the game again in a different way after not playing for a year.
“When she played at Cheverus, she did everything. She rebounded, she passed, she shot, she stole the ball, she guarded. She doesn’t have to do that here,” Vachon said. “So changing that mindset is a little different for her, but we love having Maddie.”
Redshirt senior forward Adrianna Smith, the 2022-23 America East Player of the Year who also missed all of last season with a knee injury, said Fitzpatrick will bring “a lot of intensity” to the game for UMaine.
“She has a great long-range shot, obviously, and she is a great natural leader, too,” Smith said. “That’s a role she will be able to step into the older that she gets.”
The Black Bears could have a formidable front court with 6-foot-4 Lizzy Gruber from Gardiner and 6-3 freshman Bailey Breen from South Thomaston joining two-time All-America East first teamer Smith in the paint. Gruber transferred from St. Joseph’s University in Pennsylvania and Breen is starting her freshman season after finishing her high school career at national powerhouse Montverde Academy.
UMaine’s perimeter and 3-point game will have to evolve because Vachon’s returning players took just 168 of the team’s 767 3-pointers a year ago.
Fitzpatrick said she has been working as a guard and a small forward.
“I’m just kind of going with the flow and seeing what happens. We have a great interior. If they want me to score inside, I’ll score. If they don’t, I won’t,” Fitzpatrick said. “I’ll do whatever they want me to do.
“I want to be a good teammate, be a leader and work hard every day,” Fitzpatrick said.
She thinks her game shape is good.
“It was hard getting back, for sure. But we have a great training staff and they know how to get us in shape,” said Fitzpatrick, a three-time Bangor Daily News All-Maine Schoolgirl first team selection.
Returning starting point guard Asta Blauenfeldt said Fitzpatrick can provide height and scoring ability at the guard position.
“We’re working a lot with guards posting up, and she’s doing really well at that. And she has a great shot,” Blauenfeldt said.
Senior guard Sarah Talon from Windham said Fitzpatrick will bring “energy and positivity, on and off the court.” Talon played against Fitzpatrick in high school.
“She is still learning. She’s still technically a freshman. So she is taking it in one day at a time, and you can tell that she is picking it up on the court,” Talon said. “We’re really excited to have her this year.”
The Black Bears, 15-16 overall a year ago and 9-7 in the conference, will open the season by hosting St. Joseph’s University on the Skip Chappelle Court in the Memorial Gym at 7 p.m. on Nov. 7.
