Four local players shared the wealth in Southern Maine’s 79-31 rout of the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth in the opening round of the Little East Conference women’s basketball tournament.

Kristen Arsenault, now in her second year out of Mountain Valley High School, put up five points and a team-high eight rebounds for the Huskies.

Senior Josalee Danieli of New Gloucester and Jay freshman Kaylie DeMillo each provided eight points, while Danieli’s high school teammate Dawn Ross kicked in three for the Huskies.

The Huskies are hosting the semifinal and championship rounds of the tournament for the sixth consecutive year this weekend. USM has made the semifinals in all 21 years of Little East conference tourney history.

On the men’s side, the Huskies hosted and won a Little East quarterfinal for the first time since 1999-2000 with their 79-69 triumph over Eastern Connecticut State. Ian Hebert, another Gray-New Gloucester product, scored eight points in that contest. Mt. Blue grad Foster Oakley provides experience off the bench for the Huskies, who travel to UMass-Dartmouth in tonight’s semifinals.

He’s No. 1

Bates College boasts one of the hottest Nordic skiers in the nation headed into the upcoming NCAA championships.

Sylvan Ellefson enters the national meet as the first Bates racer to ever carry the Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association’s top ranking. Ellefson secured that status with 10-kilometer freestyle victories in his last two weekend festivals.

Three women’s Alpine skiers will join Ellefson at the nationals. Rangeley’s Liz Thompson, who honed her skills at Carrabassett Valley Academy, is an NCAA qualifier for the third time. She’s accompanied by Emily Sampson and Micaela Holland.

Whitney Fahy, also out of CVA, is an alternate.

Tough to Bear

With a one-sided loss to Vermont on Wednesday night, the University of Maine women’s basketball team joined the men with 20 defeats this season.

The Black Bears have given area basketball fans ample individual reasons to cheer, however.

Maine bid farewell to only two prospective graduates at its senior night Thursday against Maryland-Baltimore County. One of those was Pat Woodbrey, a walk-on from Raymond. Woodbrey, formerly a three-sport athlete at Poland Regional High School, became a third-generation varsity athlete in Orono when he saw action earlier this winter.

Troy Barnies, of course, is only getting started at Maine. Hampered by a broken bone in his wrist after being named a starter in the preseason, the true freshman from Auburn worked his way back into 18 games, including 10 starts. Barnies’ field goal percentage of .462 is third-best on the team. He has averaged 3.3 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.

Barnies’ counterpart on the women’s squad, Christina Mosher of Farmington, has earned a spot in first-year coach Cindy Blodgett’s starting five as of late. Mosher produced 4.6 points and four rebounds per game in her freshman campaign.

Talkin’ baseball

It won’t be long before the University of Southern Maine baseball team hops a plane and heads for a warmer climate.

The Huskies enter the Little East Conference campaign highly regarded as ever. In a poll released this week, Little East coaches forecast USM to finish third behind Eastern Connecticut State and Keene State.

Local hopefuls for the Huskies include junior pitcher/outfielder Andrew Stacy of Denmark (Fryeburg Academy), freshman pitcher/outfielder Mike Eaton of Sabattus (Oak Hill), and sophomore hurler Brady Blackman of Auburn (St. Dom’s).

Southern Maine launches its schedule March 20 against William Paterson in Chandler, Ariz. The optimistic date for its home opener: April 1, against Bowdoin.

Triple threat

Sixteen semifinalists have been announced for the Joe Concannon Award, presented each year to the top American-born college hockey player in Division II or III.

One year after winning the award for the first time, Colby College can claim three of those contenders.

Seniors Arthur Fritch, T.J. Kelley and Josh Reber made the list, comprising half of the six semifinalists from NESCAC schools.

Greg Osborne brought home the Concannon for the White Mules in 2007.

Farmington notes

Area skiers Dustin Cormier of Gray and Kendall Ricker and Nate Dumais of Turner helped the University of Maine at Farmington men’s Nordic team earn a berth in the USCSA national championship meet. That event is scheduled for Sunday River beginning Monday.

Women’s basketball freshman Jillian Ross also picked up an honor for Farmington last week, winning Maine Women’s Basketball Coaches Association rookie of the week laurels. Ross averaged 13 points in three games while hitting 17-of-18 free throws.