MAINE vs. TOWSON

MAINE vs. TOWSON

Time, site: Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 2-4 (0-1 America East); Towson 0-4 (0-1)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 11-0; UM won 51-45 on 1/29/00

Key players: Maine – 6-1 F Heather Ernest (12.7 ppg, 9.3 rpg), 5-9 G Ellen Geraghty (10.5 ppg, 2.0 apg), 6-2 C Christy Grover (10.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg), 6-1 G/F Julie Veilleux (8.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.5 apg), 5-11 G/F Kizzy Lopez (7.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg), 5-10 G Lacey Stone (5.7 ppg, 3-point pct., .615); Towson – 5-4 G Mia Chapman (11.3 ppg, 2.0 apg), 6-0 G/F Jill McGowan (8.8 ppg), 6-0 F/C Faith Jones (8.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg), 5-4 G Shonte Simpson (6.5 ppg), 5-10 F/C Jackie Richardson (6.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg)

Outlook: The Bears eagerly look to bounce back physically and emotionally after a poor performance in Tuesday’s loss at Boston University. UMaine must again expect full-court pressure and be patient while involving everybody in the press-breaking scheme. The Bears hope to cut down on turnovers (they’re averaging 24.3 per game) by doing less dribbling and making better passing decisions. Geraghty and Veilleux are two of the key ballhandlers. Towson, which has never beaten UMaine, is coming off an 83-34 thrashing Wednesday at the hands of Vermont. The Tigers are a youthful squad that may have trouble matching up inside against Grover and Ernest, both of whom rebound well and can score underneath. Towson is averaging 18.3 turnovers per outing and is shooting only 60 percent from the foul line. The state of UMaine forward Anna James, who has missed the last two games with a sore right hand, is uncertain.