PRESQUE ISLE, ME
UMPI Head Women's Basketball Coach Mark Knight is pleased to announce another huge commitment for next year in the middle of the current basketball season. Ally Shields announces her intentions to play basketball next year for UMPI. Shields comes from Southern Aroostook High School which is renowned as the gold standard of recent basketball dynasties in all of Maine.
Shields is a senior as she leads the Warriors who currently sit at 6-2 and hold the five seed in Class D North. This season, Shields is averaging 21 points per game, with nine rebounds, five assists and three steals per game as well. The combination of her height and her ability to handle and shoot the ball well makes her a very versatile player that can thrive just about anywhere on the floor.
She has been an integral part of three state championship teams. The Warriors won three consecutive gold balls from 2022 to 2024 — Shields' eighth grade to sophomore years. In 2024, she was named to the all-tournament first team as the Warriors steamrolled through the bracket. The Southern Aroostook dynasty went through a rebuilding phase last season when Shields was out with an injury. But with her back on the floor this year, they have become a top competitor in the region yet again.
Shields weighed in on her college decision: "Being able to go from my small town with such a strong community support system to the next is amazing. UMPI provides just that. I'm not only excited to continue my education at UMPI, but having the opportunity to play basketball makes everything even more exciting," Shields said.
Shields' high school coach, Cliff Urquhart — winner of five state championships and six regional titles since 2018 — had much to say about his senior leader. "I am incredibly proud to see Ally take this next step in her basketball and academic career. From the moment she stepped into our gym as an eighth grader, she has been the standard-bearer for out program's culture. What the UMPI coaching staff is getting is a high-IQ player who is just as comfortable leading a huddle as she is being asked to guard the opposing team's best player. Ally has an unmatched work ethic and the kind of mental toughness that will translate nicely to the collegiate level," Urquhart said.
Shields will become an immediate difference maker for UMPI as they look to rebuild through the coming seasons. Coach Knight echoed Coach Urquhart's sentiments, including Shields winning mentality. "On the court, Ally is a very smart player and has a natural feel for the game that really stands out. Along with her abilities, she leads with poise, and purpose while bringing a competitive fire and winning mentality that helped guide her teams to three state titles. That mix of leadership and a commitment to winning is exactly what we're looking for at UMPI as we continue building our program into a top NAC competitor," Knight said. "Off the court, Ally's kindness and character speak volumes about who she is as a person. She will make an immediate impact on our program not only with her play, but by helping strengthen the culture that our current and former athletes have built."
Shields intends to enroll in the Physical Therapist's Assistant program. The UMPI family welcomes Ally Shields with open arms and is incredibly excited about the impact she will make on the Women's Basketball program and community as a whole.
