Dead River Co. Classic

MAINE vs. ST. FRANCIS (Pa.)

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

Records: Maine 0-1; St. Francis 1-0

Series/last meeting: 1st meeting

Key players: Maine – 6-4 C Jamie Cassidy (15.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 6 apg), 5-7 G Amy Vachon (10 ppg, 3 apg), 5-10 Kizzy Lopez (1.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg), 5-10 G Kristen McCormick (11.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg), 5-10 F Lacey Stone (14.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg); St. Francis – 6-0 F Jess Zinoble (34.0 ppg, 14.0 rpg, 6 apg), 5-8 G Beth Baranbei (14.0 ppg), 5-9 G Jordin Schafner 11.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg), 5-11 F Jen DeFilippo 9 ppg, 7 rpg), 5-8 G Deanna Jubeck (4.0 ppg)

Outlook: Question No. 1 for the Black Bears will be this: Can you stop Zinoble? Cornell certainly couldn’t in the Red Flash’s opener. She scored 34 in just 25 minutes of action. The Flash pressed Cornell unmercifully and rode that defensive pressure to 72 percent shooting in the first half. If Vachon makes good decisions and the Bears can take care of the ball, Cassidy could benefit from any gambling `D’ with layups on the opposite end. The perimeter success of McCormick, Stone and Lopez will help determine how much maneuvering room Cassidy gets.

GEORGIA vs. STEPHEN F. AUSTIN

Time, site: Friday, 4:30 p.m.; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Georgia 4-0; Stephen F. Austin 2-0

Key players: Georgia – 5-10 G Kelly Miller (17.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.0 apg), 6-4 C Tawana McDonald (14.3 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 3.8 bpg), 5-10 G Coco Miller (13.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.5 apg), 6-0 G Deana Nolan (8.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg) 6-4 F Angie Ball (6.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg); Stephen F. Austin – 5-5 G Stephanie Whitmore (16.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg)), 5-11 F Shawnta Johnson (13.5 ppg), 6-3 C Shaneika Harrison (11.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg), 6-2 F Tami Rater (11.0, 6.0 rpg), 5-10 F Patricia Brown (9.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg)

Outlook: The Bulldogs enter the tourney as one of the nation’s hottest commodities: The ‘Dogs were in the NCAA Final Four a year ago, they’re coming off the Women’s Preseason NIT title and are ranked No. 3 in the land after four games. The catalysts for Georgia are the Miller twins, but McDonald is a force – both offensively and defensively – down low. The undefeated Ladyjacks are coming off an appearance in the NCAA tourney last year, where they were defeated by No. 2-seeded Texas Tech in the opening round.