Women’s basketball

MAINE vs. NEW HAMPSHIRE

Time, site: Saturday, 1 p.m.; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 13-4, 7-0 NAC; New Hampshire 8-6, 5-2

Series: Maine leads 21-12

Key players: Maine – 5-9 G Cindy Blodgett (26.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.6 apg, 2.3 spg), 6-4 C Stacey Porrini (12.2 ppg, 9.5 rpg), 5-11 F Catherine Gallant (8.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg), 5-9 G Trisha Ripton (7.9 ppg, 3.1 apg), 5-7 G Stacia Rustad (4.8 ppg); New Hampshire – 5-10 F Sheila Danker (20.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.2 spg), 5-11 F Pam Brandell (11.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg), 5-11 F/C Kathy Caldwell (9.7 ppg, 11.1 rpg), 5-10 F Anne Colton (8.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg), 4-11 G Kelly Karl (5.5 ppg, 5.0 apg).

Outlook: The Black Bears near the halfway point of their North Atlantic Conference schedule against the Wildcats. UNH is in the thick of the league title race, one game behind second-place Vermont. Maine is on a roll with Blodgett, now the nation’s No. 2 scorer, setting the pace. The Bears, winners of five straight, have received tough perimeter defense of late from guards Rustad, Ripton, and Sandi Carver. UNH may give Maine problems up front, where it features good overall height. Danker is the NAC’s No. 2 scorer and top free-throw shooter, and Caldwell leads the NAC in rebounds. The Bears counter inside with veterans Porrini, Gallant and Steph Guidi, who likely will try to clog the middle in Maine’s matchup zone. UNH has struggled from 3-point range, shooting 22 percent.