MAINE vs. VERMONT

Time, site: Sunday, 2 p.m.; Patrick Gym, Burlington, Vt.

Records: Maine 3-1 (1-0 America East); Vermont 4-3 (0-0)

Series: Maine leads 33-13

Key players: Maine – 5-9 G Cindy Blodgett (31.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.3 apg), 6-4 C Jamie Cassidy (15.8 ppg, 8.8 rpg), 5-10 G Kristen McCormick (8.8 ppg), 6-1 F Klara Danes (6.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg), 5-7 G Amy Vachon (6.0 ppg, 6.5 apg, 2.8 spg); Vermont – 6-0 G/F Karalyn Church (23.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg), 5-9 G Lori Taylor (4.4 ppg, 5.0 apg), 6-0 G Kate Cronin (9.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 3.1 apg), 5-9 G Carrie Kirvin (7.3 ppg, 3.3 apg), 6-0 F Melissa Dodge (6.9 ppg).

Outlook: The Black Bears play their first road game in the noisy confines of Patrick Gym, where the Catamounts are 84-13 (.866) in the last eight seasons. Maine and Vermont are the two winningest programs in league history, with no other team having won a league title since 1989. The Bears have beaten the Catamounts six straight times. This contest brings together America East’s top two scorers in Blodgett and Church, both of whom can score from the perimeter or off penetration. Maine looks to take advantage of transition chances without giving up too many. The Catamounts want to run and avoid working against the Bears’ matchup zone, which often affords limited inside scoring chances.