University of Maine senior Asta Blauenfeldt had been a point guard for her entire career.
But that changed this season.
With a young team and only one player who had averaged double-digit points in her career entering the season, UMaine head coach Amy Vachon needed more point production. So she moved Blauenfeldt to shooting guard.
“I’ve never really been a shooter. I’ve always been a point guard,” said Blauenfeldt, a Seattle University transfer from Denmark who is in her second season at UMaine. “This has been a change for me, for sure.”
Blauenfeldt has responded by averaging 12 points per game, including a career-high 26 in last Saturday’s 92-42 win over UMass Lowell. She is the team’s second leading scorer behind two-time All-America East first team selection Adrianna Smith, who is averaging a league-leading 21.5 points per game.
The UMass Lowell game was the 16th time in 22 contests that Blauenfeldt has scored in double figures this season.
She leads the team in 3-pointers made with 44 and attempted with 122.
She averages two made 3-pointers per game, which ties her for fifth in America East.
Blauenfeldt explained that she used to get most of her points by driving the lane.
“But players here are a little taller than they are in Denmark so it’s definitely different,” said Blauenfeldt.
Freshman Olivia Alvarez has inherited the point guard role, although Blauenfeldt sees some minutes at the point from time to time. Junior Emmie Streams is also used at point guard.
“She needs to be a scorer for us to have a good game,” Vachon said about Blauenfeldt. “She was really aggressive looking for her shot on Saturday and we need her to do that every time we play.”
Blauenfeldt knows it is important for her to put up points.
“I have to at least get some shots up. As long as I stay aggressive and most of the team stays aggressive on the offensive end, we are in really good shape,” said Blauenfeldt, whose Black Bears visit league leader and defending league tournament champion Vermont on Thursday at 11 a.m.
“Asta’s scoring brings our team to a whole other level,” said Smith. “Her defense is always pretty solid, so her offense brings her game and our team to the top.”
Smith also called Blauenfeldt a great player.
“She is a really crucial part of our team. She plays a lot of minutes,” added Smith.
Blauenfeldt averages 33.8 minutes per game, which is second most on the team behind Smith and fourth-most in America East.
The 5-foot-6 Blauenfeldt said she knows it is “very important” for her to maintain her confidence as a shooter.
“I know the team and coaches want me to keep shooting,” Blauenfeldt said. “They don’t care if I go 0-for-10. So it is about me staying confident even when the ball isn’t going in.”
The UMass Lowell performance has certainly boosted her confidence. She went 10-for-17 from the floor including a 6-for-11 showing beyond the 3-point arc.
“Seeing the ball go in is huge for me and huge for the team,” said Blauenfeldt, noting how made three-pointers from her and teammate Lala Woods can help get the Black Bears going.
“We need that,” Blauenfeldt said.
Blauenfeldt, who averaged 9.7 points per game for the Black Bears last season and was tied for second on the team in scoring, is shooting 44.6 percent from the floor (99-for-222) and 36.1 percent from long distance (44-for-122) this season. She is an 88.5 percent shooter from the free throw line (23-for-26) and has hit 68 of her 79 free throws (86.1 percent) in her two seasons at UMaine.
“We know what Asta is capable of,” said UMaine senior guard Sarah Talon. “So seeing that pay off the other day against Lowell was something she needed to see. She knows what she is capable of and she needs to keep it up because when she scores, we’re really good.”
The speedy Blauenfeldt leads the team in steals with 42 in their 22 games and is also averaging 2.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists.
The high-energy guard had a team-high 49 steals in 31 games a year ago.
