Adrianna Smith keeps setting milestones.
During Saturday’s 74-67 win over Binghamton, she became the first player in America East history, male or female, to register 1,000 career points, 1,000 rebounds and 400 assists.
Entering Thursday’s 6 p.m. America East quarterfinal against visiting New Hampshire, she has 1,804 career points, 1,010 rebounds and 418 assists.
On the UMaine all-time lists, she is tied with Heather Ernest for seventh in points, fourth in rebounds and fifth in assists.
One could make an argument that she may be the best all-around player to ever play at UMaine.
She is one of only four Black Bears with over 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds along with Rachel Bouchard (2,405 points, 1,299 rebounds), Liz Coffin (2,153 points, 1,351 rebounds) and Ernest (1,804 points, 1,040 rebounds).
UMaine head coach Amy Vachon said she “doesn’t like to compare players” but added that with Smith’s stats, she would have to be included in the conversation about being the school’s best all-around player.
“She is definitely one of the best,” Vachon said. “Only three have had 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in Rachel, Liz and Heather. That’s pretty impressive.”
And she’s done it in a relatively short timeframe on the court.
“And one thing people don’t remember is she did this in three years,” Vachon pointed out, referring to the fact that Smith only played a total of 213 minutes as a freshman and tallied 64 points, 59 rebounds and 16 assists.
“It’s incredible,” Vachon said. “And the intensity she plays with is pretty remarkable.”
Smith said she hasn’t really had time to process her accomplishments yet.
“My focus now is on our playoff run,” Smith said. “Once my time is over with, it will sink in and I’ll think about that and remember all of that. But, right now, that’s not the focus that we have.”
She has exceeded her expectations.
“I didn’t know my college career would be this successful or anything like that,” said the forward from Reston, Virginia.
She stressed that there is more basketball to be played and a championship to be pursued.
Smith is listed as six feet tall but that is probably a stretch. She has been able to put up her impressive numbers despite often squaring off against players two-to-four inches taller than her and having to face double teams and triple teams.
Smith is someone who constantly outworks her opponents and uses her quick feet, ability to score with both hands and her fierce competitive nature to win the battles in and around the paint.
She is like the Charles Barkley of women’s basketball.
She has improved every season and is having the best year of her career after coming off knee surgery that sidelined her for the entire 2024-25 campaign.
She is currently leading America East in scoring (22.2 points per game), rebounding (10.3) and assists (4.8).
She is ninth in the country among players at 359 schools in scoring, 19th in rebounds and 52nd in assists.
Her 17 double-doubles are tied for 12th and she now has 55 career double-doubles.
She is shooting 45 percent from the floor and 76.2 percent from the foul line and she has improved her shooting range. She has hit 22 3-pointers which is 10 more than she amassed in her first three seasons combined.
Smith has also improved her ball-handling and is a valuable asset against a press.
“She never fails to amaze all of us,” said UMaine senior guard Sarah Talon. “She works so hard and it’s showing off. She deserves all of it.”
“It’s insane,” senior guard Asta Blauenfeldt said about Smith’s productivity. “As a team, we are all really proud of her.”
Smith was named the league’s Player of the Week for the seventh time this season and third consecutive week.
She should be named the Player of the Year for the second time in her career.
But she would much rather win the conference tournament title and get to play in another NCAA Tournament than be named Player of the Year.
All she wants to do is win.
