MAINE vs. VERMONT

Time, site: Saturday, 1 p.m., Memorial Gym, Orono

Records: Maine 10-5 (4-0 NAC), Vermont 13-2 (4-0 NAC)

Series: Maine leads 22-5, including two wins last year

Key players: Maine – C Rachel Bouchard (22.2 ppg, 10.9 rpg); F Tracey Frenette (9.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg); G Carrie Goodhue (9.2 ppg) G Julie Bradstreet (8.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg), F Heather Briggs (9.2 ppg), G Chris Strong (5.9 ppg); Vermont – G Missy Kelsen (18.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg), G Jen Niebling (16.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg), G Maureen McCarthy (6.7 ppg), G Sue Marsland (6.0 ppg), F Kelly Blue (5.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg).

Outlook: Winner takes command of first place in North Atlantic Conference. Recent history is on the side of Maine. Vermont has failed to defeat Black Bears in 10 tries, the last win being a 67-64 decision in 1984. Vermont has best 1-2 scoring punch in NAC with Kelsen and Niebling. Bouchard returns to action after missing two games with a virus. But, Black Bears depth, already minimal, will be worse with Tammi Smith (stress fracture), Stacie Alley (knee), and Katti Towle (ankle) missing the game. Highly touted UVM freshman Sherri Turnbull (20 ppg) and UVM starter Sharon Bay will also miss the game with an injury.

HUSSON vs. U-NEW ENGLAND

Time, site: Saturday, 4 p.m., Campus Center, Biddeford

Records: Husson 12-5, U-New England 13-5

Key players: Husson – F Sharon Siebert (19.2 ppg, 7.4 rpg), F Anne Cote (9.8 ppg), C Michelle Hamlin (8.0 ppg), G Kristi Wildman (6.6 ppg), G Vicki Mazerall (6.4 ppg); U-New England – C-F Lisa Nejezchleba (16.4 ppg, 10.0 rpg), G Cathy Bickford (12.5 ppg), G Darcie Trudeau (9.9 ppg), G Karen Bailey (7.9 ppg, 48 pct. 3-point shooting), F Krista Chute (6.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg).

Outlook: A BIG game. The winner could have inside edge for first or second place NAIA Dist. 5 East spot (read: homecourt advantage) come playoff time. Husson is coming off a possible momentum building win vs. Southern Maine. UNE lost big to St. Joseph’s on Thursday. UNE stopping Siebert or Husson doing the same to Nejezchleba will not decide this contest. How the rest of the players perform, however, could. Braves are without starting point guard Chris Hunter (broken jaw).

Other games: Saturday – UM-Presque Isle at UM-Machias, 1 p.m., Colby-Sawyer at Bates, 2 p.m., Middlebury at Bowdoin, 1 p.m., St. Joseph’s at UM-Farmington, 5:30 p.m., Eastern Conn. at Southern Maine, 2 p.m.