BURLINGTON, Vt. – This year, there was no Rachel Bouchard, no Cindy Blodgett, no Jamie Cassidy to spearhead the University of Maine women’s basketball team.

Instead, this Black Bear team was characterized by balance, both in experience and performance.

Senior Kizzy Lopez and freshman Heather Ernest of Temple on Wednesday were honored as members of the All-America East third team. Ernest also was placed on the league’s All-Rookie team.

“With Heather and Kizzy making third team, it makes a good stand for our program, how well we did this year and the future of the program,” said UMaine coach Sharon Versyp.

Michelle Maslowski of Drexel was recognized as the conference player of the year, while teammate Katrina Martin edged out the likes of Ernest and Boston University’s Katie Terhune for rookie of the year honors.

Tina Martin of Delaware was named coach of the year.

Joining Maslowski on the first team were Cindy Johnson and Christina Rible of Delaware, Lani Lawrence of Northeastern and Vermont’s Morgan Hall.

Second-team selections included Danielle Leyfert of Delaware, Janeka Lopp of Hartford, Jen Brickey of Hofstra and Vermont teammates Dawn Cressman and Libby Smith.

Lopez and Ernest head up the third team along with Kimberley Coke of Hofstra, New Hampshire’s Anna Matthias and Katrina Martin.

The All-Rookie contingent is made up of Ernest, Martin, Terhune, Melissa Kowalski of Northeastern and Aaron Yantzi of Vermont.

Lopez, a senior guard/forward from Hemmingford, Quebec, earned her first all-league recognition. She averaged 10.9 points, second on the team, along with 5.0 rebounds. Lopez also provided 33 assists and 33 steals.

“It’s Kizzy’s first award in her four years, which goes to show her maturity and her commitment,” Versyp said.

Ernest burst onto the scene as one of the league’s top forwards. The rangy 6-1 rookie led UMaine with 13.7 points and 10.3 rebounds, ranking ninth and third in the league, respectively, in those categories.

Ernest also posted 16 double-doubles, which places her among the top players in the nation. She shot 80 percent from the foul line during the regular season and registered 36 steals and 18 blocked shots.

“Heather being named to the All-Rookie team as well as third-team all-conference has really established a presence for the next three years,” Versyp said. “A lot of people doubted whether she had the physical presence to play at this level and she has proven she can.”

Maslowski missed her sophomore year with a fractured arm, but returned better than ever. The 6-2 junior forward led America East with 22.3 points per game and was fifth in rebounding at 9.6

Maslowski shot 48 percent from the field and 75 percent from the foul line, helping Drexel post an 18-9 record and earn the No. 2 tournament seed.

Katrina Martin, a 5-9 guard/forward, ranked fourth in the league in scoring with 16.4 points per game and was fourth in rebounding with a 10.1 average. She also finished second in field-goal percentage (.525) and was 10th in free-throw percentage (.787).

Tina Martin guided Delaware to a 23-4 record, including a 17-1 league mark, and the top seed in the tournament. The Blue Hens won a school-record 17 straight games this season, her fifth at the helm.