Tanna Ross (Hampden, Maine) was named to the 2008 America East All-Rookie team, which was announced at the conference awards banquet over the weekend. Ross averaged 8.8 ppg and was named America East Rookie of the Week three times this season.

Tanna Ross Named to 2008 America East All-Rookie Team
Ross the 10th Black Bear in program history to receive honor

University of Maine freshman guard Tanna Ross was named to the 2008 America East All-Rookie Team, which was announced on Thursday at the league's annual award's banquet at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. Ross becomes the 10th Black Bear in program history to be named to the team and the first since Abby Schrader garnered the honor in 2003.

Despite missing the final three games of the regular season with an injury, Ross turned in a strong rookie campaign. She was named the America East Rookie of the Week three times, which was tied for the second most in the conference. Ross averaged 8.8 points per game, which ranked her 28th in the conference and third in scoring among freshmen. She led Maine in scoring in six games (third most on the team), including tossing in a career-high 22 points in an 82-77 win over Boston University on Jan. 23.

Ross scored in double-figures in 11 games (five in conference play), including topping 20 points on two occassions. She poured in 20 points at Massachusetts on Dec. 8, while also tying the school record for most three-pointers made in a game with six. Ross became just the fifth player in program history to accomplish the feat, and joined the likes of Tracy Guerrette, Cindy Blodgett, Kristen McCormick and Ashley Underwood.

Ross, who started seven games, also averaged 3.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 0.7 steals per game. In addition to ranking among the league leaders in scoring, Ross ranked among the top 12 in two other categories, including three-point field goal percentage (12th, 32.8%) and three-point field goals made per game (8th, 1.65).

Ross joins Heather Briggs (1990), Chrissy Strong (1991), Stephanie Guidi (1993), Trisha Ripton (1994), Blodgett (1995), Jamie Cassidy (1997), Heather Ernest (2001), Monica Peterson (2002) and Schrader (2003) as the 10 Black Bears to be named to the all-rookie team in the program's rich history. Ross was joined on the 2008 all-rookie team by Janea Aiken (Albany), Meghan Colabella (UMBC), Denise Beliveau (New Hampshire) and Kirsten Jeter (Stony Brook).

Freshmen Matt Jebb (Toronto, Ontario) recorded eight strikeouts in six innings against Monmouth on Sunday. Jebb leads all Black Bear pitchers with 20 strikeouts on the season.

Jebb Strikes Out Eight Batters for Black Bears

The University of Maine baseball team fell to Monmouth 7-4 in 12 innings on Sunday afternoon at Bishop Stadium in Annapolis, Md. The Black Bears tied the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to force extra innings. Maine falls to 5-11 on the season with the loss, while Monmouth improves to 3-8.

The Hawks took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Monmouth extended that lead to 3-0 in the top of the second inning. The game remained 3-0 until Monmouth scored a run in the top of the seventh inning to make it a 4-0 score.

Maine got on the board in the bottom of the seventh with a pair of runs. Curt Smith (Willemstad, Curacao) and Myckie Lugbauer (Mahopac, N.Y.) recorded back-to-back singles to lead off the inning. Matt Howard (Weston, Mass.) followed and reached on an error plating Smith. Lugbauer scored when Danny Menendez (Miami, Fla.) grounded out.

The Black Bears scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie the game. Kevin Jackson (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) drew a walk to lead off the inning. He advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored when Menendez doubled. Menendez scored to tie the game when Joe Mercurio (Brewster, N.Y.) singled through the left side.

The game remained tied until the 12th inning when Monmouth scored three runs. The Black Bears threatened in both the 11th and 12th innings, but were unable to capitalize.

Matt Jebb (Toronto, Ontario) started for Maine and went six innings. He allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out eight. Kyle Benoit (Brampton, Ontario) pitched two innings for the Black Bears and allowed one run on two hits while fanning three. Jon Balentina (Willemstad, Curacao) went .1 inning for Maine, while Justin Latta (Lubbock, Texas) went 1.2 innings and allowed two hits while striking out three. Alejandro Balsinde (Miami, Fla.) pitched the final two innings for the Black Bears. He allowed three runs on four hits while striking out three. He picks up the loss and falls to 1-3 on the season.

Menendez led Maine with three hits and two RBI in the game.

The Black Bears return to action on Saturday, March 22 when they travel to NYIT for a doubleheader starting at 12 noon.