HEATHER ERNEST

(No. 11)

Vital stats: Forward/center, sophomore, 6-1; Temple

Career highlights: America East All-Rookie and third-team pick in 2000-01; third in AE rebounding, eighth in scoring; recorded 16 double-doubles as a freshman; only third freshman to lead UMaine in scoring; grabbed career-high 21 rebounds at New Hampshire (1/14/01); a team captain this season

Career averages: 13.9 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 1.1 apg

Coach’s comment: “She’s really had to really increase every area of her game because she was so successful last year. She has all the skills that she needs, she just needs to make sure that she continues to improve everything on a consistent basis.”

Personal: Often receives a lucky postgame lemon from some longtime family friends

TRACY GUERRETTE

(No. 12)

Vital stats: Guard, senior, 5-9, co-captain; St. Agatha

Career highlights: Fourth in AE assists, fifth in 3-point percentage last season; led team with 93 assists, second in minutes played; scored career-high 22 points in win at Vermont (2/4/01), tying a school record with six 3-pointers; earned a scholarship in 1999-2000 after walking on as a freshman

Career averages: 3.0 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.5 apg

Coach’s comment: “Tracy’s going to be a total shooting guard. She’s a great shooter. She gained so much experience playing the point. She understands the game and she knows how to read her screens well. She’s gotten stronger and her defense is very good.”

Personal: Speaks English and French; hopes to become a doctor; two-time UMaine Scholar-Athlete (3.0 GPA or higher)

ELLEN GERAGHTY

(No. 30)

Vital stats: Guard, junior, 5-9, co-captain; Winsted, Conn.

Career highlights: Led team and ranked fifth in AE free-throw percentage last season (.824); 8.4 ppg ranks second among returnees; scored career-high 16 points vs. New Hampshire (2/11/01)

Career averages: 2.0 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 1.0 apg

Coach’s comment: “Ellen will play the point and the wing. Ellen obviously brings experience back. She’s a pretty good 3-point shooter, a great communicator, leads on the floor; that’s why she was chosen as one of our captains.”

Personal: Traveled last summer to the Czech Republic, where she played with Athletes in Action; two-time UMaine Scholar-Athlete

MELISSA HEON (No. 1)

Vital stats: Guard, sophomore, 5-9; Somersworth, N.H.

Career highlights: Fourth on team in minutes played last season; scored career-high 23 points vs. Drexel (2/18/01); scored in double figures five times; third on squad with 42 assists

Career averages: 5.9 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.5 apg

Coach’s comment: “She’s that heart and soul on our defensive end. Mel has improved her offensive skills to a much higher level. Now she’s going to be harder to guard and, defensively, she’s still going to be a stopper.”

Personal: All-state performer in softball and volleyball at Somersworth High

JULIE VEILLEUX

(No. 23)

Vital stats: Forward, sophomore, 6-1; Augusta

Career highlights: Scored a career-high 18 points at Northwestern State (11/30/00); scored in double figures 11 times; ranked second on team in 3-pointers and 3-point percentage

Career averages: 7.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.4 apg

Coach’s comment: “She can post up small guards, that’s why we like to use her at the 3 (small forward). She’s improved defensively because her reactions and her agility are a lot better. She’s evolved in a very mature manner.”

Personal: Named to America East Academic Honor Roll (3.5 GPA or higher)

ANNA JAMES (No. 33)

Vital stats: Forward, junior, 6-0; Guelph, Ontario

Career highlights: Scored a career-high 16 points in win over Boston U. (2/22/01); fourth on team in minutes played; ranked second on team, shooting 42 percent from field and blocking 20 shots

Career averages: 4.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg

Coach’s comment: “She’s our best post defender, really is quick and is a great communicator down low. Anna is one who’s going to work hard for you every single second and I wouldn’t trade that for the world.”

Personal: Member of America East Academic Honor Roll and UMaine Scholar-Athlete

EVA MOLDRE (No. 10)

Vital stats: Center, senior, 6-3; Tallinn, Estonia

Career highlights: Led team with 21 blocked shots last season; played in 27 of 28 games as a junior, grabbing season-high seven rebounds against Towson (12/8/01)

Career averages: 1.3 ppg, 1.4 rpg

Coach’s comment: “Eva’s in the best shape she’s ever been in. She’s more agile, quicker up and down the floor, moving laterally. She’s improved her post moves and she’s become more physical.”

Personal: Competed last spring for the Estonian National Team; named to the America East Academic Honor Roll and is a two-time UMaine Scholar-Athlete

PAM CRUZ (No. 34)

Vital stats: Guard, sophomore, 5-8; Huntsville, Ala.

Career highlights: Played in 27 games as a freshman, contributing career-high eight points and nine rebounds at Hartford (2/3/00)

Career averages: 1.8 ppg, 1.1 rpg

Coach’s comment: “She’s going to bring another element to the guard slot. I haven’t seen her play, per se, but she’s a very good shooter and has some quickness. She’s strong. Her maturity level in [recent] weeks has made me very happy.”

Personal: Coming off October knee surgery and is expected to be back early this season; missed all of last season after undergoing knee ligament surgery in August 2000.

MISSY TRAVERSI (No. 5)

Vital stats: Guard, freshman, 5-7; Attleboro, Mass.

Career highlights: Averaged 19 points, 8.5 assists and 3 steals as a senior captain at Bishop Feehan H.S.; three-time all-star

Career averages: First season

Coach’s comment: “Missy is a true leader. She’s extremely talkative, giving direction, has a lot of fire, a lot of quickness. Her defensive intensity on the ball is very solid.”

Personal: Three-time tennis all-star and two-time swimming all-star at Bishop Feehan

KIM CORBITT (No. 22)

Vital stats: Guard, freshman, 5-7; Albany, N.Y.

Career highlights: First-team all-state player and state tournament MVP at Colonie H.S. as a senior, leading team to state championship; team went 52-2 in her last two seasons

Career averages: First season

Coach’s comment: “Kim’s very savvy, very steady. She is a slasher/driver type of guard. She can get into the paint, break down zones, and can knock down the short jumper. She plays incredible on-ball defense.”

Personal: Four-time scholar-athlete award winner; majoring in chemical engineering

NICOLE JAY (No. 15)

Vital stats: Center, freshman, 6-6; Matawan, N.J.

Career highlights: Led Jersey Shore Conference in blocked shots and appeared in league’s all-star game as a senior; played on Central Jersey Hawks state championship AAU teams in 2000 and 2001

Career averages: First season

Coach’s comment: “She is agile, can run the floor well. She’s got pretty good hands, is a great shot-blocker, and has a great touch on her shots. She needs to become more physical.”

Personal: Featured last year on ESPN’s Scholastic Sports America, a television program dedicated to high school sports

MONICA PETERSON

(No. 54)

Vital stats: Forward, freshman, 6-0; Wilmington, Del.

Career highlights: A three-year captain and led A.I. DuPont H.S. to four conference titles; scored 1,000 points and grabbed 1,000 rebounds in her career

Career averages: First season

Coach’s comment: “She has a knack for the ball – offensive rebounding, defensive rebounding – and a great touch to her shot. She has been probably the most consistent and steady every date in practice.”

Personal: Known for her captivating smile

KELLY MANNING

(No. 32)

Vital stats: Guard, freshman, 5-11; Charleston, W.Va.

Career highlights: Rookie of the Year and all-state as a sophomore at George Washington H.S. in West Virginia; two-time captain at Fountain Valley H.S. (Colo.)

Career averages: First season

Coach’s comment: “She’s got one of the quickest releases I’ve ever seen and it’s hard to guard because she’s a lefty. She’s a pure shooter, a zone-buster. She is great about how to get open to find her shot.”

Personal: Missed her senior season at Fountain Valley after undergoing knee surgery