UMaine teams already looking ahead Youngsters provided punch for Verysyp’s squad

Coach Sharon Versyp and the University of Maine women’s basketball team were not pleased about the way their season ended.

The Black Bears wound up 16-12 after a tough 59-55 quarterfinal loss to eventual America East Conference champion Hartford.

Despite falling short of its own expectations, UMaine has made continued progress while trying to rebuild during the last 16 months.

Versyp and her staff squeezed every ounce of talent and effort out of a team laden with up-and-comers. Freshmen and sophomores accounted for 89 percent of the squad’s offensive output and 88 percent of its total rebounding while logging 84 percent of the minutes played.

“The freshmen this year obviously have played ample minutes, so hopefully we’ll have a good combination of [youth and experience] next year,” Versyp said.

The Bears went through the season short on experience. While seniors Tracy Guerrette of St. Agatha and Eva Moldre were instrumental in the team’s success, juniors Anna James and Ellen Geraghty, sophomore Pam Cruz and freshman Kelly Manning all missed the majority of the season because of injury or illness.

James (stomach ailment) and Geraghty (back spasms), who were key contributors during 2000-01, were relegated mostly to off-court efforts this season.

“Anna and Ellen I don’t think could have led better off the floor,” Versyp said of their roles as captains. “We needed them on the floor.”

Cruz never completely recovered after knee surgery, while Manning left school after undergoing knee surgery that ended her Division I aspirations.

Even so, UMaine persevered.

Sophomores Heather Ernest of Temple, Melissa Heon and Julie Veilleux of Augusta were among the team’s mainstays.

Ernest averaged 12.8 points and 7.2 rebounds on her way to an All-America East first-team nod. She dealt with constant double-teams and took a beating underneath against bigger post players.

Heon was the Bears’ defensive catalyst. Her intensity and hustle were instrumental in several victories and her improved scoring (10.6 ppg) and rebounding (4.1 rpg) took some pressure off her teammates.

Veilleux made strides in her defense and averaged 6.8 points and 5.2 rebounds.

UMaine was at its best playing tenacious man-to-man defense that resulted in aggressive rebounding and fast-paced offense. The team was less effective running its half-court offense, which lacked consistent 3-point shooting threats and a dominating presence in the paint.

Versyp placed the offense in the hands of two first-year point guards, Missy Traversi and Kim Corbitt. Traversi averaged 10.3 points and was a 36 percent 3-point shooter. The gritty floor leader also averaged a team-best 3.1 assists and was second with 38 steals.

Corbitt complemented her classmate with quickness and effective dribble-penetration moves. She contributed 7.0 points, 2.4 assists and shot a team-best 83 percent from the foul line.

The impact freshman class included versatile forward Monica Peterson, who earned the America East Rookie of the Year award after averaging 9.1 points and 8.1 rebounds as a 6-foot power forward. Peterson was a key cog in UMaine’s inside game.

Guerrette, an exemplary captain, provided experience, 3-point shooting and solid defense coming off the bench. Moldre was an imposing physical presence underneath and blocked 32 shots.

What this UMaine team lacked in size, shooting and experience, it more than made up for in heart. Three times this season the Bears bounced back and won after trailing by 19 points or more. They overcame 10-point deficits and won on two other occasions.

“We battled. We showed how much hunger and how much determination we had coming from behind,” Versyp said. “Most young teams fold. Our kids fought back every single second.”

UMaine hopes to address some of its deficiencies, which include 3-point shooting, dribble penetration and post play. The Bears already have signed three players, including 6-3 center Abby Schrader, 6-2 forward Katie Whittier of New Gloucester, and 5-9 guard Kara Hickman.

The Bears plan to add two more players, including a shooter and a post player, during the spring signing period.

Versyp hopes the corps of veterans will continue to improve and can blend in with the newcomers to help UMaine get back to the top of America East.

“I feel that we’re really going in the right direction,” Versyp said. “We do have high expectations. We do want to get back to the NCAA Tournament.”

“We’ll be back,” Ernest said. “We’re gonna go back and work hard.”