Regardless of the score or game situation, Amanda Rodgerson doesn’t get rattled.

Ever since her arrival at the University of New England in 1998, she has been a model of poise and consistency on the basketball court.

Rodgerson, a 5-foot-10 forward from Hampden, has started every game and hasn’t missed a practice during her nearly four seasons with the Nor’easters.

Now, she’s on the verge of becoming the Biddeford school’s all-time leading scorer. Rodgerson has scored 1,667 career points heading into Thursday’s game against Newbury College (Mass.).

She needs 54 points to eclipse the mark of 1,720 held by former Lawrence standout Wendy Atwood.

“Her first year and her second year, she led the state of Maine in scoring in Division III,” said UNE coach Curt Smyth, who pointed out that Rodgerson’s 17.3 points per game average this season is the state’s best.

No one is more surprised than Rodgerson about the impending accomplishment.

“I was surprised, at first, how successful I was,” Rodgerson said. “I’ve definitely had a more successful college career than I did a high school career.”

Rodgerson has continued to improve since her high school days, when she was more of a perimeter player for the Broncos. She quickly took advantage of her height at UNE and has developed into an outstanding inside player.

“In high school I played all my years as a shooting guard,” said Rodgerson, who was a NEWS All-Maine honorable mention as a senior. “When I came to UNE I was the tallest player.”

She has taken advantage of her versatility for the Nor’easters, shooting 51 percent from the floor and 76 percent from the foul line this season. Rodgerson also is averaging 6.6 rebounds.

“She’s strong with her back to the basket, but she’s also got a very good midrange jump shot,” Smyth said. “What might separate her from some other post players is, she can put the ball on the floor.”

Rodgerson began her career by earning the Maine Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year award. The Nor’easters have since moved to the 13-member Commonwealth Coast Conference, which includes the likes of Colby Sawyer, Salve Regina and Anna Maria colleges.

Even after her initial success, Rodgerson has continued to improve. She is a second-year captain and is a two-time, all-conference, second-team pick.

“Her maturity is what strikes me the most,” Smyth said. “I feel a lot of it has to do with her parents, who are great people. And her brother Derek is a quality person. I think Amanda has taken a lot from them.”

The biggest improvement in Rodgerson’s game over the years has been on the defensive end.

“I think that’s one of the parts of her game that she’s really developed,” Smyth said. “She’s really worked hard on that aspect of her game.”

Rodgerson is quiet by nature, but has learned to provide a bit more vocal leadership this season with the Nor’easters. She tries to provide an element of consistency.

“I think maybe being composed is one thing [I do well],” she said, “whether we’re up 20 or down 20, being composed and playing the same.”

Basketball is a family passion for the Rodgersons. Her parents, Reggie and Chris (Smallwood), played high school ball at Katahdin High in Sherman Station. Younger brother Derek is a starter at Franklin Pierce College (N.H.)

Two of her cousins, Thomas Rodgerson and Doug Rodgerson, play for Katahdin.

Reggie and Chris Rodgerson have had to work out a schedule that allows them to watch both of their children play this season.

Amanda, who was attracted to UNE because of its small size and friendly atmosphere, will graduate in May with a degree in sports and fitness management. She is considering graduate school in the hope of one day becoming a high school athletics director.

USM, Bowdoin highly regarded

The strength of Division III women’s basketball in Maine this season continues to be reflected in two national polls.

Perennial power Southern Maine and surging Bowdoin College both have occupied lofty spots in the D3hoops.com and USA Today/ESPN/WBCA top 25 polls.

Coach Gary Fifield’s Huskies have moved back ahead of the Polar Bears after Bowdoin’s recent loss to Bates. USM ranks fourth in the country in the USA Today poll with a sparking 20-1 record and an 18-game winning streak.

The Huskies feature several eastern Maine products, including Kara Crockett of Glenburn, Meg Cressler of Appleton, Jess Libby of Orono, Nikki Allen of Blue Hill and Kati Libby of Orono.

USM, which has made seven consecutive appearances in the NCAA Division III Championship, suffered its only loss of the season on Nov. 27, a 49-40 defeat to Bowdoin.

Bowdoin holds down the No. 7 spot in the most recent USA Today poll. Coach Stefanie Pemper’s team is 16-1 after suffering its first loss last Friday (56-54) at New England Small College Athletic Conference rival Bates.

Bowdoin, which had been ranked as high as No. 2 prior to the setback, bounced back with a win at Tufts on Saturday.