Women’s basketball

MAINE vs. VERMONT

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

Records: Maine 21-4 (15-0 NAC); Vermont 14-9 (11-4)

Series: Maine leads 28-13

Key players: Maine – 5-9 G Cindy Blodgett (27.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 4.3 apg, 2.7 spg), 6-4 C Stacey Porrini (11.8 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 2.4 bpg), 5-9 F Trisha Ripton (8.4 ppg, 3.9 apg), 5-11 F Catherine Gallant (7.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg), 6-0 F Steph Guidi (7.3 ppg); Vermont – 6-2 C Alex Lawson (19.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg), 5-9 G Lori Taylor (12.3 ppg, 4.8 apg, 2.5 spg), 5-9 G Carrie Kirvin (9.0 ppg), 6-0 F Shannon Burke (9.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg), 6-0 G Kate Cronin (8.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.1 spg).

Outlook: The Black Bears have clinched the North Atlantic Conference regular-season championship and home court throughout the league playoffs. But Maine struggled in Thursday’s 75-62 win at Hartford before winning it at the foul line. The Catamounts have already earned a quarterfinal home game and are working to clinch second place. Vermont is coming off a 91-86, two-overtime victory over New Hampshire. Maine has won 13 straight, Vermont five of six. Blodgett has carried the Bears in key situations and continues to lead the nation in scoring. The Catamounts look to the agile Lawson to establish the inside game, which Maine must limit with good defense by Porrini, Gallant and Guidi. Vermont also features good team rebounding and Taylor’s 3-point accuracy.