ORONO – Katie Whittier has learned to appreciate the value of hard work and perseverance during her five seasons at the University of Maine.

After sitting out her first year and playing sparingly the next two seasons, Whittier is closing out her basketball career as a mainstay for the Black Bears.

The senior tri-captain from New Gloucester hopes to help lead coach Ann McInerney’s team to a strong stretch run starting with today’s noon America East game against Binghamton at Alfond Arena.

“I don’t think we’ve found our niche yet,” Whittier said. “We’ve just got to keep on working at it and hopefully it’ll come together sooner rather than later.”

The rangy, 6-foot-2 forward has figured prominently in UMaine’s fortunes. Whittier, one of two Bears to start all 21 games, ranks third on the team with 9.2 points per game and is second with 5.7 rebounds per contest.

Both are career highs for Whittier, who is shooting 52 percent from the field. She is an unselfish role player who is capable of being an impact player.

“She has made a real big difference in the program this year,” McInerney said. “Having her to go along and complement Bracey [Barker] and Ashley [Underwood] adds another dimension to our team.”

When Barker missed five games with a wrist fracture earlier this season, Whittier helped pick up the slack, averaging 12.4 points and 6.8 rebounds.

“I knew that I had to step up my game and produce a little bit more than I had been and just because the team needed me to do that,” Whittier said.

McInerney is looking for Whittier to assert herself in the same fashion during the latter part of the season.

“She’s a competitor,” McInerney said, “but she’s the type of kid that doesn’t always need to be in the limelight. Hopefully, she knows how much we need her and how much she means to this team.”

Whittier’s road to success has been a winding one.

As a freshman in 2002, she was declared a partial academic qualifier by the NCAA and forced to sit out. The next two seasons, she was unable to crack the regular rotation.

With the arrival in 2005 of McInerney and her staff, Whittier capitalized on the chance to get a fresh start.

“Last year I definitely got the opportunity to go out there and actually prove myself,” said Whittier, who earned a starting spot and led the league in field-goal percentage at .623 while averaging 8.0 ppg and 4.6 rpg. “I just think it’s having confidence in yourself.”

Her momentum was slowed last season when she suffered a stress fracture in her left foot that forced her to miss eight games.

“All of a sudden I couldn’t do anything. It was definitely frustrating,” Whittier said.

Lingering foot issues and sore knees have forced Whittier to reduce practice time and avoid certain drills. They haven’t kept her from maintaining her work ethic and being a key contributor.

“She’s obviously very athletic at her size,” McInerney said. “She runs the court very well, and she has done a much better job rebounding this year. You have to pay attention to her.”

Whittier, who played her high school ball at Gray-New Gloucester, takes great pride in wearing the UMaine uniform.

“I tell the girls this year who don’t really see to much time, ‘just keep working hard and you’ll get your opportunity,'” she said. “‘Believe me, I’ve been there and your time will come.'”

Whittier is a vocal presence on the court but is a quiet, thoughtful leader behind the scenes.

“She’s a true testament to what hard work does do,” McInerney said. “She really sets the tone for the underclassmen.”