Melissa Heon had looked forward to having a memorable senior season at Somersworth (N.H.) High School in 1999-2000.

She’ll never forget it, but not because of basketball. Early that season, during warmups, Heon’s career and health were suddenly in jeopardy.

“I was just shooting. I bent over to pick up a ball and my [vertebral] disc slipped out, hit my nerve and I fell on my face,” Heon recalled. “[My legs] went like paralyzed, numb…”

Heon spent almost a month in bed with a “slipped disc.” Doctors diagnosed a congenital back problem that has tested her physically and mentally.

Four years later, Heon is an integral member of the University of Maine women’s basketball team. She is its emotional leader on the court, having earned that distinction with tremendous intensity, a tireless work ethic and hustle.

The Black Bears will need those qualities this week during the America East tournament in West Hartford, Conn.

The 5-foot-9 guard ranks second on the team scoring with 11.0 points per game. She leads UMaine with 40 3-pointers, ranks second with 71 assists and is third with 4.4 rebounds per game, 42 steals and a .392 3-point shooting percentage.

Heon continues to play with the same reckless abandon that caught the attention of recruiters in high school, knowing her back could flare up at any time.

“My role is to lay it on the line and be crazy and hope that people follow,” Heon said of her approach. “I think I’ve harnessed my intensity and learned how to focus it.”

Her coaches, teammates, trainers and some friends at UMaine are aware of her struggle to stay healthy while playing Division I basketball. Heon has never used it as an excuse.

By doing strengthening exercises, receiving superb care from the UMaine training staff, reducing practice time and praying, Heon has made herself a consistent force for the Bears.

“In reality, there’s times that she probably shouldn’t have been playing basketball the last couple years,” said UMaine coach Sharon Versyp, who sat down with Heon after her sophomore season to talk about her future with the Bears.

“I just wanted to make sure that she was going to be fine after basketball,” Versyp said. “Basketball didn’t matter. It was her decision [to keep playing] and I have the utmost respect and admiration for her.”

Heon, an All-America East second-team pick last season, has been durable and consistent. In 111 games, Heon has played almost 29 minutes per game, missing only four because of injuries.

Heon, who leads the team with 32.1 minutes per game this season, admits it has been a huge challenge meeting the physical and emotional demands of Division I basketball.

“I’m very exhausted and the minutes some of us put in are extraordinary,” said Heon, who missed three games earlier this season because of an injury to her left thumb.

“[My back] doesn’t affect the way I play,” said Heon, who admitted there are obstacles.

“In season, every day I get out of bed hurting,” she said. “I’ve learned tricks on how to deal with things.”

Heon is grateful for the work of UMaine trainer Sherrie Weeks, whose treatments, guidance and moral support have helped her withstand the rigors of basketball.

“Without her, I couldn’t be here,” Heon said. “That’s how I pretty much survive. She’s beyond a trainer; she’s an amazing woman.”

Heon has been able to persevere because of her incredible competitiveness. It’s a trait she learned as the third of David and Julie Heon’s four children.

“If you sit down at the dinner table and there’s one piece of meat left, we’re diving on the table for it,” Heon laughed. “Whatever we were doing, there was always competition.

Heon arrived at UMaine as a defensive specialist. She has proven herself one of America East’s best defenders but, through the years, has worked to improve her offense, first off the dribble, then from outside.

“My ultimate goal was to leave a complete player,” Heon said. “I don’t think people do understand the devotion you have to put in if you’re going to improve and try to be at that top level.”

Now, she is able to balance her need to be a defensive stopper with being a consistent offensive threat. Heon improved her ballhandling, then became a dangerous 3-point shooter.

To be able to play at full speed in games, Heon must take it easy other times. She admits it’s hard to watch from the sidelines one or two days a week while her teammates practice.

“My teammates have been wonderful,” she said. “It’s hard to see a kid who plays 40 minutes a game not practice and [have them] bust their [butts] like they’re doing and for them to understand the reasons why I can’t.”

Heon credits her strong Christian upbringing and her involvement with Athletes In Action as helping her remain grounded and strong despite the challenges she has encountered as a student-athlete.

“Since I came here, I’ve grown more in my faith than in anything and it’s helped me grow as a person,” Heon said. “It has been the most amazing thing in my life.”

After graduating in May with a degree in kinesiology, Heon hopes to take a year off to travel before enrolling in a physical therapy program.