HEATHER ERNEST

(No. 11)

Vital stats: Forward, senior, 6-1; Temple

Career averages: 15.5 ppg, 9.2 rpg, .496 FG pct., 774 FT pct.

Career highlights: 2003 America East Player of the Year; a two-time, first-team all-star; only AE player, male or female, to average a double-double (19.8 ppg, 10.2 rpg) last season; received tryout with 2003 U.S. National Team; seventh on UMaine career scoring (1,306) and rebounding (775) lists

Coach’s comment: “She has enhanced her game. She knows what it takes to be the very best.”

JULIE VEILLEUX

(No. 23)

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

Career averages: 7.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.4 apg, .732 FT pct.

Career highlights: Averaged career-high 8.0 ppg as a junior; led team with .829 FT pct.; ranked third on squad in scoring and rebounding (4.9 rpg); only player to start all 31 games last season; UMaine Scholar-Athlete silver medalist

Coach’s comment: “A well-rounded basketball player; the most consistent, reliable, day in and day out. Julie is playing the best I’ve seen her play.”

MELISSA HEON

(No. 1)

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

Career averages: 9.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.6 spg, .777 FT pct.

Career highlights: 2003 All-America East second-team pick; led team in steals (64) for second straight year and was second on team in scoring (11.1 ppg) and assists (92); started 73 of 86 career games at UMaine

Coach’s comment: “She has spirit and fire. She’s a great defensive player. She’s a good 3-point shooter, but she has to slash and drive for us more.”

KIM CORBITT

(No. 22)

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

Career averages: 6.6 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.3 spg, .712 FT pct.

Career highlights: 2003 America East Defensive Player of the Year and a third-team all-star; led Bears and was third in league with 138 assists; 2.26 assist-to-turnover ratio tops in conference; selected to attend NCAA Leadership Conference (May 2003); led America East in FT pct. (.833) as a freshman

Coach’s comment: “She’s a leader, offensively and defensively, on the court. She sets the tone for our defense. We need her to shoot better.”

MONICA PETERSON

(No. 54)

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

Career averages: 8.1 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.3 apg, .448 FT pct., .695 FT pct.

Career highlights: Second on team and sixth in America East last season with 6.8 rpg; fourth on team with 7.1 ppg; grabbed career-high 17 rebounds in AE title game against Boston University; 2002 America East Rookie of the Year

Coach’s comment: “She has a great knowledge of the game. She will be playing on the perimeter. She knows how to attack the basket.”

MISSY TRAVERSI

(No. 5)

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

Career averages: 8.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.0 spg, .363 3-pt. FG pct., .729 FT pct.

Career highlights: Appeared in all 31 games as a sophomore; led UMaine with 43 3-pointers and was third on team with 69 assists; career-high 22 points Feb. 2, 2002, vs. Boston University; team-high 46 3-pointers as a freshman; career-best 8 assists vs. Hartford (March 2, 2002)

Coach’s comment: “She can play the point or the 2. Missy’s a great 3-point shooter. She’s a leader on the court and brings great energy.”

ABBY SCHRADER

(No. 55)

Vital stats: Center, sophomore, 6-3; Point Pleasant, N.J.

Career averages: 6.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, .456 FG pct.

Career highlights: America East All-Rookie selection in 2003; played in 30 games, averaging 6.0 points, 4.3 rebounds; career-high 16 points vs. Vermont (Jan. 22, 2003) and pulled down 10 rebounds three times

Coach’s comment: “You can’t stop Abby in the post when she’s on her game. She’s really playing within herself and within the team concept.”

NICOLE JAY

(No. 15)

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

Career averages: 1.4 ppg, 1.5 rpg, .400 FG pct.

Career highlights: Started 26 games as a sophomore, averaged 1.8 points and 1.7 rebounds; third on team with 16 blocked shots; scored career-high nine points at Stony Brook

Coach’s comment: “She needs to be the protector of the paint. It’s her junior year and she should shine finishing around the basket, rebounding and blocking shots.”

KATIE WHITTIER

(No. 20)

Vital stats: Forward, sophomore, 6-2; New Gloucester

Career averages: first season

Career highlights: Sat out last season as a partial qualifier; averaged 14.8 points and 10.9 rebounds over four seasons at Gray-New Gloucester High, leading Patriots to two Western Maine Class B titles; first female in school history to score 1,000 career points

ANDREA GAY

(No. 31)

Vital stats: Center, sophomore, 6-3; Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

Career averages: 1.2 ppg, 0.7 rpg, .450 FG pct.

Career highlights: Scored career-high six points against Albany (Feb. 26, 2003); grabbed career-high four rebounds against Robert Morris (Dec. 29, 2002)

KATHERINE QUACKENBUSH

(No. 51)

Vital stats: Forward, sophomore, 5-11; Halifax, Nova Scotia

Career averages: 0.8 ppg, 1.1 rpg, .368 FG pct.

Career highlights: Played in 19 games as a freshman; achieved career highs of 14 minutes played, five points, and four rebounds against Robert Morris (Dec. 29, 2002)

BRACEY BARKER

(No. 34)

Vital stats: Guard/forward, freshman, 6-1; Bar Harbor

Career averages: first season

Career highlights: Named Miss Maine Basketball in 2003; led Mount Desert Island High to three straight Class B state titles; two-time NEWS All-Maine first-team pick; averaged 21.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, three steals and three blocks playing for her father, Burt Barker

LINDSEY HUGSTAD-VAA

(No. 12)

Vital stats: Forward, freshman, 6-2; Apple Valley, Minn.

Career averages: first season

Career highlights: Owns Minnesota’s high school blocked shots record with 598; averaged nine points, seven rebounds, and six blocks as a senior at The Breck School; four-time all-conference selection; also lettered in volleyball and track and field

ASHLEY UNDERWOOD

(No. 10)

Vital stats: Guard, freshman, 5-9; Benton

Career averages: first season

Career highlights: Averaged 18 points, four assists, four steals as a senior at Cony High; shot 43 percent on 3-pointers while scoring more than 1,000 career points; Miss Maine Basketball Finalist; helped lead Rams to Eastern Maine Class A title in 2002