UMaine women’s basketball loses 2-time Gatorade Player of the Year to injury

Two-time Maine Gatorade Player of the Year Maddie Fitzpatrick, who led Cheverus High of Portland to two state Class AA championships, will miss her freshman season at the University of Maine due to a knee injury suffered during a summer practice, according to a UMaine press release.

Cheverus went 22-0 this past season and Fitzpatrick, a 5-foot-11 guard, averaged 23 points, 11.3 rebounds, 4.9 steals and 4.7 assists per game.

During the regular season, she averaged 25.5 points per game which was the most among any AA player, North or South, boys or girls. She also led the AA North girls in rebounds (11.3) and steals (4.9) and was third in assists (4.4).

The versatile Fitzpatrick was used as a point guard, a post player and a wing by Cheverus head coach Bill Goodman.

“She can shoot, she can handle the ball, she’s a great passer and she has post moves,” said Goodman. “She is a very special athlete. And she was a great teammate and a very hard worker.”

She became the first Lady Stag to eclipse the 1,000-point plateau for her career.

Fitzpatrick is a three-time Bangor Daily News All-State first team selection and was named Miss Maine Basketball which is given to the state’s top senior player.

The Cumberland native was the co-Player of the Year in AA North and was on the AA North all-defensive first team.

“In her short time in Orono, Maddie has made an indelible impact on our program,” said UMaine head coach Amy Vachon in a press release. “Unfortunately for Maddie and our team, she will not be able to compete in the 24-25 basketball season.

“We will support Maddie every step of this journey as she works to return to the court. Her debut as a Maine Black Bear on the court may be delayed, but she will return better than before,” Vachon added.

Fitzpatrick was one of the players expected to help pick up the slack left by the departure of two-time America East Player and Defensive Player of the Year Anne Simon, who concluded her brilliant career as the school’s fifth-highest career scorer (1,982 points).

She was also fifth on the all-time steals list (280) and 10th in rebounding (721).

Simon guided the 24-10 Black Bears to an America East championship and an NCAA Tournament berth by averaging a conference-leading 18.9 points per game en route to Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors. She was also second in steals (2.5), third in rebounds (7.2) and fourth in assists (3.2).

UMaine will return its next seven leading scorers including All-America East first team selection Adrianna Smith, who led the conference in rebounds (10.8 per game) and assists (4.7) and was second in scoring (16.4).