Women’s basketball

MAINE vs. MASSACHUSETTS

(Preseason Women’s National Invitation Tournament)

Time, site: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Massachusetts 0-0, Maine 0-0

Series: Maine leads 8-4

Key players: Maine – 5-9 G Cindy Blodgett (20.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.3 spg), 6-4 C Stacey Porrini (12.3 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 1.6 bpg), 5-9 G Trisha Ripton (9.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg), 5-11 F Catherine Gallant (7.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg), 5-7 G Stacia Rustad (3.4 ppg), 5-9 G Sandi Carver (3.4 ppg); UMass – 6-3 C Melissa Gurile (15.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.6 bpg), 5-9 F Octavia Thomas (15.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg), 6-2 F/C Crystal Carroll (10.9 ppg, 1.7 spg), 5-7 G Beth Kuzmeski (9.2 ppg, 3.2 apg), 5-11 F Tez Kraft (7.5 ppg), 5-3 G Sabriya Mitchell (3.2 ppg, 4.5 apg).

Outlook: Maine, the North Atlantic Conference preseason No. 1, takes on UMass, the Atlantic 10 East favorite. The Minutewomen look to Gurile, Thomas and Carroll to pace a potent frontcourt. Maine presents good balance, with point guard Blodgett and center Porrini giving the Bears an outside-inside combination. UMass also plays strong defense, having finished 18th in the nation last year, holding opponents to 37-percent shooting. A large Alfond Arena crowd could help Maine earn home court for the second round, if it wins. Maine averaged 3,598 fans last season.