Heather Ernest gave her heart and soul while playing for the University of Maine women’s basketball team.

For her efforts, the rangy forward from Temple earned All-America East honors four times and twice was named the conference player of the year.

The former Mt. Blue High School star also became an endearing figure to thousands of Black Bear fans.

This afternoon, UMaine fans will have a final opportunity to salute Ernest when the university retires her No. 11 jersey.

Ernest will be honored prior to the 2 p.m. tip-off of the Bears’ game against Michigan at Alfond Arena in Orono.

“I was quite shocked when coach [Sharon] Versyp told me that they’d be retiring my number,” Ernest said Thursday night while visiting friends in Orono. “I’m very excited, though, because I know how hard I’ve worked through high school and college. I didn’t expect this moment to come, but I’m very thankful that it has.”

Ernest, who ranks fifth at UMaine in career scoring with 1,804 points and third with 1,040 rebounds, is only the fifth UMaine women’s basketball player to have her number retired. She joins Cindy Blodgett (14), Rachel Bouchard (43), Emily Ellis (40) and Liz Coffin (44) in that select company.

Jamie Cassidy (24) will be added to the ranks next month.

Ernest is back in Maine for the holidays, and today’s festivities, after spending the past few months playing professional ball in Luxembourg. The visit has reminded her how nice it is to be home.

“It feels like I never left,” said Ernest, who went to lunch with Versyp on Thursday before watching the women’s team practice at Memorial Gym. “I’ve been kind of running around and seeing my friends and everybody I went to school with.”

Ernest credits a tremendous support system with having helped her achieve at such a high level during her career.

“I wouldn’t be here without all the support of my family and the love of my teammates and coaches,” said Ernest, who can’t wait to be back inside Alfond Arena on game day.

“I’m very excited to be there and, most of all, to watch my former teammates play and to see all the people and fans that have supported me for the last eight years through high school and college,” Ernest said.

Ernest is thoroughly enjoying her experience in Luxembourg, a tiny country located between Germany, France and Belgium.

She plays for a club team called Residence Walferdange, which she said occupies third place in its league. Ernest is the only non-Luxembourg on the squad, as per league rules.

That presents a few challenges, including trying to understand Luxembourgish (derived from French and German) while playing a different brand of basketball than that to which she is accustomed.

“It’s competitive, but not the level that I had been competing at [with UMaine],” admitted Ernest, who said her team usually plays in front of about 20 people.

“Not every atmosphere can be like Maine,” she said. “I have been very spoiled throughout my career and at Maine. It’s a little different, but it has been a good experience for me.”

Ernest has made sure to take advantage of the opportunity, traveling to the historic cities of Rome and Paris while visiting Germany and Belgium. Her parents, John and Pam, recently returned from a two-week visit to see Heather play in Luxembourg.

“My dad’s been having a hard time,” Ernest said of his not being able to watch her play after following her around the country for four seasons at UMaine.

Ernest plans to return to Maine when Residence Walferdange’s season ends in May. She is hoping to attend graduate school in the near future and study to become a physician’s assistant.