Dead River Tip-Off Classic
MAINE vs. LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY
Time, site: Friday, 8 p.m.; Alfond Arena, Orono
Records: Maine 1-0; Long Island University 0-2
Key players: Maine – 6-0 F Stephanie Guidi (18 points, 9 rebounds per game), 5-9 Erin Grealy (12 ppg), 6-0 F Rita Sullivan (10 ppg, 5 rpg), 5-7 G Seana Dionne (1 ppg, 6 rpg), 5-7 G Chrissy Strong (4 ppg, 5 apg); Long Island – 5-5 G LeTagna Owens (9 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 3 apg), 5-4 G Nicole Thomas (8 ppg), 6-0 F/C Yolanda Champagne (6 ppg, 5.5 rpg), 5-9 F Jineea Butler (9.5 ppg, 11 rpg), 5-5 G Jennifer Xiques (3 ppg)
Outlook: Maine is hoping to build off last weekend’s defensive success and improve its offensive execution against the Lady Blackbirds. LIU is an athletic team that looks to run-and-gun. Coach Joanne Palombo’s Black Bears look to continue their pressure defense, but want to make the best of their opportunities on the offensive end. LIU, under Coach Marguerite Gualtieri, struggled to a 6-12 Northeast Conference record and a 9-17 overall mark last season. Maine will be without sophomore shooting guard Stacia Rustad, who is expected to miss five weeks with a stress fracture in her right foot.
NORTHWESTERN STATE (LA.) vs. ARMY
Time, site: Friday, 6 p.m.; Alfond Arena, Orono
Records: Northwestern State 1-0; Army 1-2
Key players: Northwestern State – 5-6 G Bridgete Williams (21 ppg), 6-0 F Joskeen Garner (20 ppg, 13 rpg, 4 apg), 5-7 G Angela Simpson (15 ppg, 4 spg), 5-7 G Stephanie Shaw (12 ppg, 14 apg), 6-0 C Susan Baxter (4 ppg, 6 rpg); Army – F Lisa Russell (20.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg), C Karin Gventer (14.3 ppg, 11 rpg), F Carrie Garinger (10.3 ppg, 3.7 spg), G Siobhain Kilgallen (4 ppg), G Carrie Jeanneret (1.3 ppg, 3.7 apg)
Outlook: The NSU Lady Demons boast eight players who stand at least six feet tall, including a pair of 6-3 freshmen centers from Yugoslavia. However, Northwestern State, which scored 102 points in its opener, has only four upperclassmen on its roster. Army’s Lady Knights have already played two top-30 teams in DePaul and San Diego State. The Knights look to score from inside out, having taken only three 3-pointers. Army has been a strong second-half club. Kilgallen, Army’s senior captain, is a former Cape Elizabeth High School standout.
The rest of the tourney schedule: Saturday, consolation game, 6 p.m.; championship game, 8 p.m.
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