Dead River Co. Tipoff Cliassic

MAINE vs. MERCER

Time, site: Friday, 7 p.m.; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 0-0, Mercer 0-0

Key players: Maine – 6-0 junior F Stephanie Guidi (15.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg last season), 5-9 senior G Erin Grealy (11.3 ppg), 5-7 junior G Seana Dionne (6.0 ppg, 2.8 apg), 6-0 senior F Rita Sullivan (4.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg), 5-9 freshman G Cindy Blodgett, 5-11 junior F Catherine Gallant (5.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg), 5-9 soph G Trisha Ripton (7.0 ppg); Mercer – 5-10 junior F Lashon Brown (17.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg last season), 5-11 soph F Christy Cogley (6.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg), 6-2 soph C Kate Bosma (4.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg), 5-7 soph G April Gresham (2.4 ppg), 5-7 junior G LeAnna Wilder (0.7 ppg).

Outlook: The Black Bears begin their quest for an NCAA Tournament berth against the Teddy Bears, who return four starters and nine letterwinners off last year’s 6-20 club. Maine features four returning starters and plenty of depth from a defense-minded team that was 20-7 last season, led by All-North Atlantic Conference first-team pick Stephanie Guidi. Mercer has a new coach in veteran University of New Orleans assistant Billy Holmes and the Teddy Bears appear to be on the upswing.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS vs. ARMY

Time, site: Friday, 5 p.m.; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Northern Illinois 0-1; Army 0-0

Key players: Northern Illinois – 5-11 senior F Angela Lockett (22.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg), 5-9 senior G Leslie Pottinger (14.0 ppg), 5-9 junior F Charmonique Stallworth (14.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg), 6-0 junior F Dana Lau (6.0, 7.0 ppg), 5-8 junior G Kelly Robbins (7.0 ppg); Army – 5-8 junior G Carrie Jeanneret (4.1 ppg, 4.0 apg last season), 5-5 senior G Calondra Dooley (2.0 ppg), 5-9 junior G Kim Hanson (2.6 ppg), 5-11 frosh F Adrienne Quimby, 5-10 soph G Julie Schellhase (1.0 ppg), 6-0 soph F Jamie Arundell.

Outlook: Northern Illinois returns eight letterwinners off last season’s 24-6 club, but is adjusting to a new system under first-year Coach Liz Galloway-McQuitter. The Huskies have made four NCAA Tournament appearances in five years, but must replace high-scoring guard E.C. Hill and two frontcourt starters. Army, which went 1-1 in the Dead River tourney last year, returns a less experienced club. Eleven of the Lady Knights’ 14 players are underclassmen, with Jeanneret the lone starter back.

Men’s college basketball

MAINE vs. YALE

Shootout Spokane Tourney

Time, site: Friday, 11 p.m., Martin Centre, Spokane, Wash.

Records: Maine 20-9 last season; Yale 10-16

Key players: Maine – 6-0 G Casey Arena (13.2 ppg, 6.1 apg, 3.5 rpg, last season), 6-3 G Matt Moore, 6-4 F Chris Collins (8.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg), 6-6 F Kenny Barnes (9.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg)), 6-10 C Reggie Smith (1.1 ppg, 1.6 rpg); Yale – 6-4 G Daniel Okonkwo (6.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg), 6-2 G Gabe Hunterton, 6-8 C Boe Lintz (5.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg), 6-8 F Bernie Colson (8.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg), 6-4 F Andy Karazim (13.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg)

Outlook: Both teams were chosen to finish sixth in their respective leagues. The teams have played only once previously with Yale beating the Bears 26-17 in 1923. This will be a battle of tempos as the Bears will try to force the Elis into an up-tempo game while Yale will try to force Maine into a half-court game. Freshman Hunterton and sophomore Okonkwo will have their hands full against Maine’s explosive back-court duo of Arena and Australian transfer Moore. Yale has won the only meeting of the two teams.

GONZAGA vs. GEORGIA STATE

Time, site: Friday, 9 p.m., Martin Centre, Spokane, Wash.

Records: Gonzaga, 0-0; Georgia State, 0-0

Series: first meeting

Key players: Gonzaga – 6-1 G Kevin Williams (2.6 ppg, last seaso), 6-5 G John Rillie (12.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg), 6-9 C Scott Snider, 6-6 F Jon Kinloch (6.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg), 6-7 F Jason Rubright (3.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg); Georgia State – 5-10 G Rodney Hamilton, 6-2 G Tony Rhine (4.7 ppg, 1.8 rpg), 6-8 C Tildon Wright (7 ppg, 3 rpg), 6-2 F Shay Spells, 6-3 F Travis Williams (8.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg)

Outlook: Gonzaga is coming off a 22-8 season while Georgia State was 13-14 a year ago. Carter Wilson will be making his coaching debut for Georgia State. Georgia State will be without forward Terrence Brandon (14 ppg, 6.9 rpg), who is out for academic reasons. Gonzaga has won 27 straight at the Martin Centre. Gonzaga has won the previous four Shootout Spokane tourneys.

College hockey

Great Western Freeze-Out

MAINE vs. NOTRE DAME

Time, site: Friday, 7 p.m.; Sunday, 4 p.m. or 7 p.m.; Great Western Forum, Inglewood, Calif.

Records: Maine 8-0-3, Notre Dame 3-8-0

Key players: Maine – junior D Jeff Tory (2 goals, 10 assists), senior D Chris Imes (2-9), senior D Jacque Rodrigue (6-3), sophomore C Tim Lovell (4-4), junior RW Brad Purdie (3-3), junior LW Reg Cardinal (1-2), junior G Blair Allison (8-0-3, 2.46 goals-against avg., .888 save pct.); Notre Dame – C Jamie Ling (4-14), RW Tim Harberts (9-2), D Ben Nelsen (3-5), LW Jamie Morshead (3-5), RW Brett Brulninks (4-2), C Steve Noble (4-2), G Wade Salzman (2-5-0, 4.51, .846).

Outlook: Defense appears to be Maine’s strength and Notre Dame’s weakness. The Irish have allowed almost five goals per game, while the Black Bears have held opponents to 2.5 per contest. Maine’s top three scorers are defensemen, sparked by 34-percent efficiency on the power play. Soph Trevor Roenick, who has bounced back well from a knee injury, may see some time out West. Notre Dame has struggled in the tough CCHA, giving up 14 goals in losses to Western Michigan and Bowling Green last week.

BOSTON UNIVERSITY vs. PRINCETON

Time, site: Friday, 4 p.m.; Sunday, 4 p.m. or 7 p.m.; Great Western Forum, Inglewood, Calif.

Records: Boston University 6-1-2; Princeton 2-4

Key players: Boston University – soph F Mike Grier (13-7), soph D Chris O’Sullivan (7-7), senior C Jacques Joubert (5-5), senior C Steve Thornton (3-7), senior D Rich Brennan (1-9), soph C Shawn Bates (5-2), senior G Derek Herlofsky (4-1-2, 3.44, .824); Princeton – freshman RW Casson Masters (4-4), junior C J.P. O’Connor (3-5), junior RW Jonathan Kelley (3-2), frosh LW Matt Brush (2-3), soph LW Tony Ranaldi (1-3), junior D Brent Flahr (0-4), soph G James Konte (2-4, 5.12, .837).

Outlook: The Terriers should be heavy favorites, considering they’re the No. 1 team in the country. BU’s big (6-foot, 242-pound) weapon is Grier, who leads the team with 13 goals, including nine power-play tallies. The Tigers feature a balanced offense, but have allowed 5.5 goals per game despite 77-percent penalty-killing.