Imagine a basketball court, a place where legends are made. And among the best players in America East over the last quarter-century, five remarkable women from the University of Maine shine brightly. But here's where it gets controversial... these athletes not only dominated on the court but also left an indelible mark on the league's history.
Forward Heather Ernest, along with guards Kim Corbitt, Blanca Millan, Anne Simon, and Sigi Koizar, have been selected as some of the top 25 players in America East over the past 25 years. UMaine shares this honor with Albany and Vermont, each boasting five exceptional players on this prestigious list.
However, not all programs have been as fortunate. Hartford, Boston University, and Binghamton have fewer representatives, while Stony Brook and New Hampshire each have just one player on the list. And this is the part most people miss: Hartford, BU, and Stony Brook are no longer part of the America East conference, which adds an intriguing layer to the story.
To be considered for this elite group, players had to meet specific criteria. They had to play at least two seasons in America East between 2000-01 and 2024-25, and earn all-league honors at least twice. Current players were not eligible for this recognition.
Now, let's delve into the extraordinary achievements of these UMaine women. Anne Simon and Blanca Millan stand out as the only players in league history to be named Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season, and they did it not once but twice! Simon, a native of Sandweiler, Luxembourg, is the school's fifth-leading all-time scorer with an impressive 1,982 points. Her career statistics are equally impressive: 15.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2.2 steals per game over 130 games. Her 280 steals rank fifth in school history, and her 721 rebounds are the tenth most. Simon's accolades include four All-America East selections, three of which were first-team and all-defensive team honors. She was also named the league's Rookie of the Year and was a part of the all-rookie team. Simon's impact was felt most in the 2023-24 league tournament, where she was named the most outstanding player.
Millan, from Santiago de Compostela, Spain, is sixth on the all-time scoring list at UMaine and 13th in America East with 1,974 points. She averaged 15.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.6 steals, and 1.8 assists over 126 games. When she graduated, she held the second-place record for steals in school history with 324 and was third in 3-pointers with 216. Like Simon, Millan was an All-America East first-team and all-defensive team selection three times and was chosen for the all-rookie team. She was also named the league tournament's most outstanding player twice.
Kim Corbitt, a two-time America East Defensive Player of the Year, is fourth on the school's career assists list with 436. She averaged 7 points, 3.7 assists, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 118 career games. Corbitt was a two-time All-America East selection.
Heather Ernest, a Farmington native, is seventh on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,804 points in 115 games. She averaged 15.7 points, 9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.3 steals. Ernest was named America East Player of the Year twice and was a first-team selection three times. She is third in school history with 1,040 rebounds. Ernest was also named the tournament's most outstanding player in 2003-04.
Sigi Koizar, a native of Vienna, Austria, who attended Stearns High School in Millinocket as an exchange student, is the UMaine program's ninth-leading scorer with 1,671 points. Over her 130-game career, she averaged 12.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. Koizar also hit an impressive 186 3-pointers, the sixth-most all-time, and her 179 steals rank tenth. She was a three-time All-America East first-team selection, and her 368 career assists are the eighth-most in program history. Koizar holds the school's single-season record for threes with 85.
These five women have not only left their mark on the court but have also inspired a generation of athletes. Their achievements are a testament to the power of hard work, dedication, and talent.
So, what do you think? Are these women among the greatest America East basketball players of all time? Should other factors be considered when determining a player's legacy? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
