Women’s college basketball

Northwestern Roger L. White Invitational MAINE vs. WESTERN KENTUCKY

Time, site: Friday, 6 p.m.; Welsh-Ryan Arena, Evanston, Ill.

Records: Maine 2-2; Western Kentucky 6-1

Series: tied 1-1

Key players: Maine – 6-4 C Jamie Cassidy (25.8 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 2.8 apg, 2.3 bpg), 5-10 G Kristen McCormick (14.0 ppg), 6-4 F Martina Tinklova (12.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg), 5-7 G Amy Vachon (6.0 ppg, 8.0 apg, 2.3 spg), 5-11 F Kizzy Lopez (4.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg); WKU – 6-2 F Shea Lunsford (18.6 ppg, 10.7 rpg), 5-6 G Katasha Witcher (14.3 ppg, 3.3 apg), 6-2 C ShaRae Mansfield (11.0 ppg, 6.9 rpg), 5-11 G Jaime Walz (7.3 ppg, 3.7 apg), 6-1 F Shatika Hutcherson (7.7 ppg).

Outlook: Maine looks to regroup quickly after Wednesday’s loss at UMass. The Lady Toppers likely will be hungry after losing to the Bears last season in Orono. Maine will have to be conservative on defense against WKU, which combines size, quickness, balance and depth. Vachon needs help handling the ball against the Toppers’ full-court pressure and establishing dribble penetration. Maine must hit from outside to open up Cassidy insipenetration. Maine must hit from outside to open up Cassidy inside. Rebounding well and taking advantage of fast-break opportunities are other keys for the Bears.