Basketball

Women’s college basketball

MAINE vs. NORTHEASTERN

Time, site: Saturday, noon; Cabot Gym, Brookline, Mass.

Records: Maine 17-8 (13-3 America East); NU 15-11 (10-6)

Series/last meeting: Maine leads 24-17; NU won 55-45 on Dec. 8

Key players: Maine – 6-4 C Jamie Cassidy (21.4 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 2.5 bpg, 2.1 apg), 5-7 G Amy Vachon (10.5 ppg, 6.6 apg, 2.6 spg), 5-11 G/F Kizzy Lopez (8.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.0 spg), 5-10 G Kristen McCormick (8.1 ppg), 6-1 F Anna James (3.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg), 6-4 F Martina Tinklova (6.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg); Northeastern – 5-6 G Tesha Tinsley (19.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 4.0 apg, 2.5 spg), 6-3 C Lani Lawrence (11.9 ppg, 7.8 rpg), 6-0 F Garrette Glinton (8.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg), 5-10 F Wanda Almengot (7.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.1 apg), 5-10 G Genny Caruso (5.8 ppg, 2.2 apg)

Outlook: The Bears go after their fifth straight win. Northeastern owns a rare three-game win streak over UMaine, including last season’s league championship game. The Bears hope to carry over the defense they played Friday in holding Boston U. to 40 points, but look to pick up the offense. UMaine could benefit from forcing the tempo and utilizing its improving depth as NU prefers a slow pace and lacks quality reserves. The Huskies lead the league in scoring defense (56.3 ppg).

Men’s college basketball

MAINE vs. BOSTON U.

Time, site: Sunday, noon; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 22-6 (14-3 America East), BU 6-20 (5-12)

Series/last meeting: BU leads 36-34/UM won 76-54 on Dec. 9

Key players: Maine – 6-8 F Nate Fox (17.4 ppg, 7.4 rpg), 6-2 G Huggy Dye (14.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg), 6-10 F Julian Dunkley (13.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg), 6-1 G Andy Bedard (13.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 7.0 apg), 6-2 G Derrick Jackson (6.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg); Boston U – 6-6 F Paul Seymour (11.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg), 6-7 F Jean Avebe (11.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg), 6-4 G/F Mike Costello (9.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg), 6-0 G Derek Franklin (7.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg), 6-7 F Jerome Graham (4.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg)

Outlook: Fox needs just six points to reach 1,000 for his career and a big crowd will applaud that feat: The largest Alfond crowd to watch a men’s hoop game is likely as more than 5,200 tickets had been distributed by Tuesday. After sneaking past Northeastern on Thursday, the Black Bears need a solid effort to use as a springboard for next week’s conference tournament. Bedard will try to increase his school record for most assists in a season. He has 183, which surpasses the 181 he recorded as a junior. The Bears have defeated BU in three straight meetings over the past two years.