Twitter
Facebook
Reddit
Digg
Tell us what you think!Send a letter to the editor about this or any other article in The Maine Campus.
The University of Maine women’s basketball team gets by with a little help from its friends–each other.
The tight-knit group has won eight straight games and boasts a 5-0 conference record (12-4 overall), making the Black Bears the only undefeated team in the America East conference. Part of the success lies in UMaine’s offensive balance. Rather than having a go-to player, the Black Bears have been sharing the offensive duties and relying on various individuals for offensive production.
One such player is guard Melissa Heon. The junior has stepped up and become an offensive leader for coach Sharon Versyp’s team.
“We need leaders and players stepping up every game, being consistent, and I wanted to be one of those players for my team,” Heon said. “They can count on me to show up for every game ready to go, put my numbers up and fill my role on this team.”
In her first two seasons at UMaine, Heon was noted as a defensive specialist. While she still showcases her defensive skills, she has quickly emerged as an offensive threat.
“At the end of each season, you sit down with your coach and evaluate your season,” Heon said. “After it was all said and done, offense was going to be my main focus all summer. Sophomore year, I came off a summer of shooting, shooting and some more shooting. I worked on my offensive game all summer.”
The Somersworth, N.H. native is averaging 11.3 points per game and 4.9 rebounds per game. She can also pass the ball, averaging 3.44 assists per game, second on the team only to sophomore Kim Corbitt.
“You have to find your role so you can contribute on the team within that season, and mine was defense [in my first two years],” Heon said.
In regards to this season, Heon feels more confident about the team’s progress, as well as her own.
“I have a different confidence to me this year than the past two years,” Heon said. “That has been carrying me through this season and I don’t foresee it going away.”
Aside from the eight-game win streak, the Black Bears have other notable accomplishments. They handed the University of Vermont their worst loss of the season (64-38) while holding the Catamounts to 32.7 percent shooting. Vermont had been ranked first in the league in field goal percentage entering last Wednesday’s matchup.
The Catamounts are not the only team atop the America East Standings. The Black Bears hold first place in the conference, and are ranked first in field goal percentage defense, allowing opponents only 35.7 percent shooting from the field.
UMaine also leads the league in rebounding margin, with a +7.9 rebounding margin over opponents. The rebounding has in turn created offense and has limited opponents to fewer shots.
The next matchup for the UMaine will come Feb. 1 against the University of Hartford, and tip-off is slated for noon at Alfond Arena.
If the Black Bears defeat Hartford, they will reach ten consecutive wins and tie the record set by the 1999-2000 Black Bears, coached by Joanne Palombo-McCallie. That season, UMaine earned a berth in the NCAA tournament, and this year’s Black Bears hope to repeat that feat.
“There is no doubt we will win,” Heon said. “There is a perfect amount of confidence that radiates off of us, and we are starting to get that.”
