MAINE MEN vs. FAIRFIELD
Time, site: Monday, 8 p.m.; Alumni Hall, Fairfield, Conn.
Records: Maine 10-7, Fairfield 7-10
Key players: Maine – 6-0 G Casey Arena (13.4 ppg), 6-6 C Ken Barnes (8.5 ppg), 5-11 G Deonte Hursey (10.3 ppg), 6-5 F Terry Hunt (8.6 ppg), 6-5 F Chris Collins (8.6 ppg), 6-6 F Ed Jones (9.9 ppg); Fairfield – F Shannon Bowman (12.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg), G Scott Sytulek (12.7 ppg), G Craig Martin (11.7 ppg), G Greg Francis (7.8 ppg), G Johnny Jones (7.4 ppg, 5.1 apg), F Scott English (2.2 spg).
Outlook: The Black Bears catch a brief break from their North Atlantic Conference schedule against the Stags. Maine won on the road Thursday and Saturday without senior forward Francois Bouchard, who stayed in Orono to rest his sprained ankle. Fairfield is a guard-oriented team that likes to fire up the 3-pointers, so Maine’s guard defense will be a key factor. The Stags will try to force the tempo. That is fine with the Black Bears who prefer to push the ball upcourt whenever possible. Arena has had the hot hand of late for Maine and appears to have shaken off his recent shooting slump. Maine leads the series 5-4, having won 63-58 a year ago.
MAINE WOMEN vs. DARTMOUTH
Time, site: Monday, 5:30 p.m.; Leede Arena, Hanover, N.H.
Records: Maine 12-6, Dartmouth 8-6
Key players: Maine – 6-0 F Steph Guidi (15.1 ppg, 8.8 rpg), 5-9 G Erin Grealy (10.0 ppg), 5-7 G Seana Dionne (5.7 ppg), 6-0 C Rita Sullivan (5.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg), 5-11 F Catherine Gallant (5.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg), 5-7 G Chrissy Strong (4.9 ppg, 4.0 apg, 2.1 spg); Dartmouth – 6-4 C Ilsa Webeck (12.3 ppg, 9.6 rpg), 6-0 G-F Brandi Jones (8.4 ppg), 5-8 G Betsy Gilmore (7.7 ppg, 4.8 apg, 4.0 spg), 5-7 G Sally Annis (7.6 ppg), 5-10 G-F Kira Lawrence (6.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg), 5-8 G Jen Stamp (5.0 ppg).
Outlook: The Big Green have won eight of their last nine contests, including victories over North Atlantic Conference members New Hampshire and Boston University. Dartmouth features outstanding scoring balance and good quickness in the backcourt. Maine, which had its six-game win streak snapped Saturday against Northeastern, faces its last non-conference opponent of the season. Dionne has been a sparkplug for the Black Bears, averaging 14 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4 assists in her last two outings. Maine has struggled a bit from the foul line of late. The Bears lead the series 5-1, including a 60-59 overtime win last season.
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