MAINE vs. RHODE ISLAND

Time, site: Friday, 7 p.m.; Keaney Gymnasium, Kingston, R.I.

Records: Maine 3-5; Rhode Island 3-4

Series, last meeting: tied 9-9; UMaine won 52-48 on 12/19/99

Key players: Maine – 6-1 F Heather Ernest (10.9 ppg, 8.9 rpg), 6-3 C Christy Grover (9.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg), 6-1 G/F Julie Veilleux (9.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.6 spg), 5-10 G/F Kizzy Lopez (7.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg), 5-9 G Tracy Guerrette (2.9 ppg, 3.4 apg, 1.0 spg), 5-10 G Lacey Stone (6.5 ppg, .579 3-pt. pct.); Rhode Island – 5-10 F Yatar Kuyateh (14.1 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 2.4 spg), 5-6 G Lindsey O’Neil (10.7 ppg), 5-7 G Neda Djuric (9.3 ppg, 5.1 apg), 6-4 C Vedrana Bajagic (12.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg), 5-10 Shayla Johnson (8.0 ppg)

Outlook: The Black Bears head into this game unsure of who will be healthy come game time. Ernest, Grover and Lopez have been hit by the flu, point guard Ellen Geraghty is out for 3-4 weeks with a stress fracture in her left foot, and forward Anna James is doubtful with a hand injury. The Rams appear to be an improved team this season with good balance at the guard spots and a solid post player in Bajagic. URI gets to the foul line often, but is shooting only 56 percent. Both teams have been turnover-prone. With Geraghty out, the play of Guerrette and Veilleux at the point is magnified. The Bears also must get a good performance inside from Eva Moldre, their only healthy center. Maine is coming off an 84-59 loss to Delaware, while URI beat Harvard 70-58.