UMaine's Amy Vachon, Blanca Millan win top honors in America East

Feb. 26—University of Maine senior guard Blanca Millan and Coach Amy Vachon were given the top individual in America East on Friday as the top-ranked Black Bears prepare for a semifinal in the women's basketball conference tournament.

Millan was named America East Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year and Vachon awarded Coach of the Year for UMaine, which won its 17th regular-season league title in program history with a 16-2 overall record (13-2 in America East and 5-0 at home).

Maine received a bye to the semifinals of the conference tournament and plays in Orono at 1 p.m. on March 7 against a to-be-determined opponent.

Millan,a three-time all-conference selection, is the first women's player in America East history to twice be named both Player and Defensive Player of the Year. The fifth-year guard led the league in scoring (21.7 points per game, 17th in the nation), and ranked third in rebounding (7.4) and field goal percentage (47.9). Millan was 14th nationally in steals per game (2.94) and 18th in total steals (53), leading a Maine defense which ranked seventh in the nation in scoring defense (52.4 points per game).

Vachon wins the award for a third time after managing her team through a season where COVID-19 was a constant challenge and schedules were altered because of it. Maine went 11-2 away from home as Vachon guided the Black Bears to double-digit league wins for the fourth consecutive season. Vachon becomes just the fifth coach in America East history to win the award three or more times.