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Emily Rousseau of Biddeford says she had no social life and trouble keeping up with academics.

 

Emily Rousseau, a standout point guard from Biddeford, has filed an appeal to be released from her basketball scholarship at the University of Maine after the school refused to do so last week.

Rousseau, a biochemistry major, said she left the team because the demands of the program infringed on her schoolwork and simply wasn't what she wanted.

"It was too demanding and wasn't a whole lot of fun for me," said Rousseau. "My whole college experience thus far has been just basketball. This is definitely not a rash decision by any stretch. I had been struggling from almost the beginning. I attributed it to the fact I was a freshman and there is a lot of adjusting to be made, but it didn't get any easier. In fact it kept getting worse for me."

Coach Cindy Blodgett couldn't be reached for comment Friday. Blodgett, who recruited Rousseau for Brown before being hired at Maine, said earlier this week it's not her policy to discuss specific reasons why players leave.

Rousseau said she told Blodgett of her decision to leave March 20 at her end-of-season one-on-one meeting with the coach.

According to Rousseau, Blodgett said she wouldn't release her scholarship, which meant Rousseau couldn't receive athletically related financial aid until after serving a year in residence at a new school.

"She said the reason for me wanting to leave was not good enough," said Rousseau.

Rousseau said she went back to Blodgett this week when she learned two other players who left the program – center Sandra Vaitkute and forward Magdala Johnson – were granted releases. She hoped Blodgett would reconsider.

"She said no again and I asked her to explain a little more about why," said Rousseau. "She quoted me as saying I didn't have fun and didn't have much of a social life. I did say that but I gave other reasons as well."

Rousseau said she started to fall behind in her classes in the first semester and had no social life.

By the second semester she said she chose a course load that would include more general classes in an effort to stay afloat.

"We had practice, lifting, individuals and study halls, and that's on top of classes," said Rousseau. "I had to back away and take more general classes because I couldn't do it. It was too difficult for me."

Rousseau said she would like to pursue college basketball at the Division II level but has no program in mind.

NCAA rules give athletes the opportunity to appeal a denied request for release. She will plead her case to a committee put together by the university, scheduled for Wednesday in Orono, said Athletic Director Blake James.

If Rousseau's appeal is denied, she still can transfer but cannot receive an athletic scholarship until she's lived at the new school for a year. Whether she's granted a release or not, NCAA requirements say Rousseau would have to sit out a year before playing for a new school.

"I've dedicated most of my life since I was in seventh grade to earning a scholarship," said Rousseau. "I'm a little upset that might be jeopardized."

James said he won't discuss the situation until after the appeal process, but explained the department handles these situations on a case-by-case basis.

"In cases where I deny a release it's because we feel they can be a productive member of our university and our athletic program," said James. "I recognize there are situations that it is in the best interest of the program and the student- athlete for them to be released from their commitment. But in certain cases we as a university may feel differently than an individual."

Rousseau said she's considering retaining legal counsel for the appeal.

She said despite her love for basketball, she has to consider the bigger picture. There are few professional leagues for women to play basketball after college.

"I still love...