MAINE TIP-OFF CLASSIC

Time, site: Friday through Sunday at University of Maine in Orono.

Tournament schedule: Friday – Mississippi vs. Florida International, 4 p.m., at Memorial Gym; Saturday – Maine vs. Florida International, 2:30 p.m., Alfond Arena; Sunday – Maine vs. Mississippi, 11:30 a.m., Alfond Arena.

University of Maine

Record: 0-1.

Key players: C Cyndi Buetow (17 ppg, 5 rpg), F Heather Briggs (12 ppg, 10 rpg), F Catherine Gallant (12 ppg, 9 rpg), G Chrissy Strong (9 ppg, 5 rpg), G Erin Grealy (1 ppg).

Tournament outlook: Black Bears are looking to rebound from tough opening-game lost to Boston College. In the season opener, Maine missed 22 “easy” layups and seven one-and-one front ends. Improvement in offensive execution is a must for Palombo this weekend. Maine frontcourt will have its hands full vs. a bigger Florida International squad and a quicker Ole Miss team.

Florida International

Record: 0-0, season-opener (23-10 in 1991-92)

Key players: (Last year’s stats) C Albena Branzova (15.8 ppg, 7.4 rpg), F Dessislava Dakova (6.9 ppg), G Andrea Nagy (13.9 ppg, 8.5 apg), F Shelly Godbolte (2.2 ppg), F Rachel Matakas.

Tournament outlook: Florida International lives up to its “international” billing. The Golden Panthers feature players from Budapest, Hungary (Nagy), Burgas, Bulgaria (Branzova), Sofia, Bulgaria (Dakova), and Prague, Czechoslovakia (Pokorna). What’s worse for opponents is that Branzova stands 6-4, Dakova 6-3. Nagy’s 8.5 assists was third in the country last season.

Mississippi

Record: 0-0, season-opener (29-3 in 1991-92).

Key players: (Last year’s stats) F Clara Jackson (13.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg), F Kristen Goehring (10.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg), G Diane Pimpton, G B.B. Manuel, C Susan Byrd.

Tournament outlook: Ole Miss may have been the best team in the country last year, cruising through the powerful Southeastern Conference with an 11-0 mark before getting bumped out of the NCAA tourney by Southwest Missouri State in the quarterfinals. Van Chancellor’s team lost four starters from last year’s squad, but returns enough talent to be ranked 12th in the nation.