Ernest named AE Player of the Year Versyp, Corbitt also receive honors

Coming out of Mt. Blue High School in Farmington, Heather Ernest was regarded as the best female basketball player in the state of Maine.

Three years later, despite initial doubts about her slight build, the University of Maine’s talented forward is the most respected player in the Division I America East Conference.

Ernest reaped the rewards of hard work Wednesday night when she was named the America East Player of the Year during the league’s awards banquet on the eve of the America East Tournament at West Hartford, Conn. She is joined on the first team by Morgan Hall of Vermont, Katie Terhune of Boston University, Stony Brook’s Sherry Jordan and New Hampshire’s Maren Mathias.

The 6-foot-1 junior from Temple was one of five Black Bears honored for their efforts. Sophomore point guard Kim Corbitt won the inaugural Defensive Player of the Year award, while Sharon Versyp was chosen the Coach of the Year.

Top-seeded UMaine, which enters today’s 6 p.m. quarterfinal against No. 8 Hartford sporting a 23-4 record, placed Ernest on the All-America East first team. Junior guard Melissa Heon was a second-team pick, while Corbitt earned third-team recognition.

Freshman forward Abby Schrader was an All-Rookie choice.

Ernest is the first Player of the Year from UMaine since Jamie Cassidy in 1998-99. She was a second-team pick last year and a made the third and All-Rookie teams as a freshman.

Ernest has been the focal point of the UMaine offense. Her slippery moves close to the basket, her second effort and her ability to hit 3-pointers make her tough to defend.

“I don’t think she can be contained,” said Stony Brook coach Trish Roberts. “She’s a very good player. Each year she’s gotten better and better. I definitely think she’s the best player in the conference at this time.”

Ernest averaged a league-best 19.8 points per game this season and led America East with 9.8 rebounds per outing. She ranked fourth in field-goal percentage (.541) and fifth in free-throw percentage (.826) while playing hard-nosed interior defense.

Corbitt, who has quickly developed a reputation as a tenacious on-the-ball defender, takes home the first Defensive Player of the Year honor. The 5-foot-7 sophomore from Albany, N.Y., almost always guards the opponent’s point guard.

That means picking up her player in the backcourt and disrupting her ability to run the offense. Corbitt has played 27 high-intensity minutes per game while directing the UMaine offense from the point.

Corbitt averaged 6.0 points, 4.6 assists and 1.8 steals while leading the league in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.7 to 1). She became the first UMaine player since Amy Vachon to record more than 100 assists in a season (123) and committed only 52 turnovers (1.9 per game).

Versyp, in her third season at UMaine, has rebuilt the program with a team that relies on man-to-man defense and a balanced, cohesive offensive scheme. She joins Joanne Palombo-McCallie (four times) as the only Black Bear coaches to receive such recognition.

“I have to give Sharon credit,” said Boston University coach Margaret McKeon. “She’s done an excellent job all year long with this team and that’s why they’re 23-4 and 16-0 in the league.”

Second-team selection Heon has continued to improve her all-around game. The junior from Somersworth, N.H., averaged 11.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.9 steals while shooting 86 percent from the foul line.

Heon, who hit 25 3-pointers, also served as the Bears’ defensive stopper while guarding most opponents’ leading scorers and holding most in check.

Schrader, a 6-3 forward from Point Pleasant, N.J., had a solid freshman season for UMaine. She averaged 6.7 points and 4.7 rebounds in 16.7 minutes per game. She shot 47 percent from the floor and blocked 20 shots.