ORONO – Last year.

University of Maine women’s basketball coach Ann McInerney calls those “dirty” words.

The Black Bears look to put the 2005-06 season behind them after struggling to a 10-19 record (5-11 America East), and getting eliminated in the conference quarterfinals.

This season, in spite of a formidable nonleague schedule and a strong America East field, UMaine hopes to re-establish itself as a conference contender.

“Definitely, we want to turn things around,” said senior Katie Whittier of New Gloucester, who is among three returning senior starters from Maine who will lead the Bears into Saturday’s home season opener against William & Mary.

The Bears, picked to finish an uncharacteristic seventh in the AE preseason coaches poll, are motivated and ready to prove the doubters wrong.

“I think [the poll] kind of motivated us, kind of lit a fire,” Whittier said. “We have a lot of work to do and we know what we have to do to get out of that position and prove ourselves to the rest of the conference.”

Maine’s main players

UMaine’s foundation is made up of three Maine seniors. Co-captains Bracey Barker of Bar Harbor, Ashley Underwood of Benton and Whittier provide plenty of talent and experience.

That trio accounted for 55 percent of UMaine’s scoring, 43 percent of its total minutes played and 21 percent of its rebounding last winter.

Barker, a well-rounded 6-foot-1 forward who can play inside or on the perimeter, led the Bears with 13.8 points per game en route to All-America East third-team recognition.

Underwood, a 5-8 shooting guard, is a dangerous 3-point threat and tenacious defender. She averaged 13.3 points and a team-best 2.8 assists while topping the Bears in free-throw percentage (.824) and 3-point percentage (.355).

Whittier, a 6-2 post player, averaged 8.0 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 62 percent from the field in 21 games. She missed several games due to a stress fracture in her foot.

“Our corps of seniors, they come back with a strong sense of urgency and knowing what it’s going to take,” McInerney said.

Barker is being called upon to set the tone for the Bears. While pencilled in at power forward, she also is an effective 3-point shooter and can play any position on the floor.

“I think she had some games for us last year where she was unstoppable,” McInerney said. “That’s what we’re looking for, more consistency from her in that superstar role, which she’s reluctant to have because of the personality of the kid she is and the attitude she has. She’s very unselfish.”

Bears’ base of experience better

Senior center Lindsey Hugstad-Vaa also provides size (6-2) inside. She averaged 4.6 points and 2.7 rebounds last winter and started 12 games, mostly when Whittier was out.

Sophomore guard Kris Younan, who has been a sparkplug during preseason, is being looked upon to increase the efficiency of her contributions.

“She allows us to run the court and score in transition,” McInerney said. “She really can be a momentum changer.”

Sophomore shooting guard Brittany Bowen and redshirt freshman post player Brittany Boser also will compete for playing time. Soph Colleen Kilmurray, a small forward, played in 26 games last season.

“We return some players that got a lot of experience last year playing under adversity,” McInerney said of the veterans. “They need to use that as motivation, as a learning experience and be ready to go back at it this year with a new sense of hunger or determination.”

Freshmen look to make impact

UMaine also is counting on some of its six newcomers to make immediate contributions.

Freshman Abby Greene will see time at point guard along with Younan after Margaret Elderton transferred last spring for personal reasons.

“She runs the show, gets the ball to the right people. She is very fundamentally sound offensively and defensively,” McInerney said of Greene.

The most highly touted freshman is swing player Amanda Tewksbury, a motivated 5-10 lefthanded shooter.

“She’s a hard-nosed, old-school, fundamentally strong, solid kid who loves to play,” McInerney said.

Wing player Tiffany Colon also is expected to earn playing time while 6-6 center Sandra Vaitkute gives UMaine a big, but raw, presence inside. The other rookies are walk-on point guard Kristin Baker of Bingham and power forward Katia Bratishko.

“We’re just trying to get those freshmen accustomed to Division I basketball,” Barker said. “It’s a longer season. It’s much more intense.”

UMaine’s success will hinge on whether the seniors can play up to their capabilities consistency, whether the other veterans can demonstrate marked improvement, and the ability of its freshmen to fill some key roles with steady play.

“The returning players, I think, come back with a new sense of urgency and knowing that is their team,” McInerney said. “And I think our newcomers come in with very good work habits and are committed to the program and to working hard in order to succeed.”

UMAINE SCHEDULE

NOVEMBER

11 – William & Mary, 7:30 p.m.

Subway Basketball Classic

(At Minneapolis, Minn.)

18 – vs. Middle Tennessee State, 2 p.m.

19 – vs. Minnesota/Princeton, TBA

Dead River Co. Classic

(At Alfond Arena, Orono)

24 – Brown, 7 p.m.

25 – St. John’s/Clemson, 6 p.m.

29 – at Dartmouth, 7 p.m.

DECEMBER

7 – at Holy Cross, 7 p.m.

10 – at Saint Joseph’s, Pa., 2 p.m.

17 – at Boston College, 3:30 p.m.

Cavalier Classic

(Charlottesville, Va.)

28 – at Virginia, 3 p.m.

29 – Ala.-Birmingham/Northwestern, TBA

JANUARY

4 – New Hampshire, 7:30 p.m.

7 – at Albany, 2 p.m.

10 – at Binghamton, 7 p.m.

14 – at Vermont, 1 p.m.

17 – Stony Brook, 7:30 p.m.

20 – Boston University, 7 p.m.

24 – Maryland Baltimore County, noon

27 – Hartford, noon

FEBRUARY

3 – at New Hampshire, noon

7 – Albany, noon

10 – Binghamton, noon

13 – Vermont, 7:30 p.m.

17 – at Boston University, 1 p.m.

24 – Maryland Baltimore County, noon

27 – at Hartford, 7 p.m.

MARCH

3 – at Stony Brook, 4 p.m.