UMaine Capsules

MEN’S BASKETBALL

MAINE vs. BROWN

Time, site: Saturday, 1 p.m.; Pizzitola Sports Center, Providence, R.I.

Records: Maine 9-3 (2-2 America East), Brown 4-6

Series, last meeting: Brown leads 4-3, UM won 82-82 on 11/28/99

Key players: Maine – 6-10 F Julian Dunkley (15.2 ppg, 7.3 rpg), 6-2 G Huggy Dye (15.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg), 6-6 F Carvell Ammons (14.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg), 6-3 G Errick Greene (8.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg), 6-2 G Derrick Jackson (6.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg), 5-11 G Tory Cavalieri (8.7 ppg, 4.25 apg); Brown – 6-5 F Earl Hunt (20.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg), 6-6 F Alaivaa Nuualiitia (11.1 ppg, 7.2 rpg), 6-7 F Shaun Etheridge (8.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg), 6-3 G Jesse Wood (7.8 ppg, 1.3 rpg), 6-1 G Omari Ware (7.2 ppg, 1.9 rpg)

Outlook: The Black Bears of Maine will have to contend with one of the Ivy League’s best in the versatile Hunt. Hunt has fired up 42 3-pointers among his 145 shots, and is connecting at a nifty .476 clip from behind the arc. He’s also a .796 shooter from the free throw line. Three of Brown’s losses come at the hands of Big East opponents: Boston College, Connecticut and Providence. The Friars, which UMaine defeated, drubbed Brown 110-59 on Dec. 23. UMaine will need to be able to motivate themselves in this road contest, as there won’t be a hostile crowd to infuse the game with life. Providence has averaged 729 fans per home game so far. Cavalieri and Ammons (jammed right thumb) will be game-time decisions but are probable to play. Both practiced Friday but not at full speed.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

MAINE vs. NORTHEASTERN

Time, site: Sunday, 3:30 p.m.; Cabot Gym, Boston, Mass.

Records (prior to Friday’s games): Maine 4-7 (1-2 America East); Northeastern 6-6 (2-1)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 25-17; Maine won 55-53 on 2/26/00

Key players: Maine – 6-1 F Heather Ernest (11.2 ppg, 8.9 rpg), 6-1 G/F Julie Veilleux (10.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.4 spg), 5-11 G/F Kizzy Lopez (9.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.3 spg), 6-1 F Anna James (4.9 ppg), 5-10 G Lacey Stone (6.0 ppg), 5-9 G Melissa Heon (4.4 ppg, 1.2 spg); Northeastern – 5-10 G Melissa Kowalski (14.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg), 5-10 F Genny Caruso (10.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.4 spg), 6-3 C Lani Lawrence (10.3 ppg, 9.9 rpg), 5-4 G Aisha Williams (9.6 ppg, 3.5 apg, 2.0 spg), 5-8 G Laurie Harris (6.9 ppg, 2.6 apg, 1.6 spg)

Outlook: The Black Bears meet the Huskies in the first of three consecutive road games. UMaine’s guards are likely to be tested by a guard-heavy NU team that is averaging nearly 10 steals per game. The Bears, who are averaging 24 turnovers per game, took on Vermont Friday night. The Huskies, who have won three in a row, are coming off Thursday’s 64-55 victory at Hofstra. Northeastern is a fairly potent and balanced offensive squad that has two or three 3-point threats. UMaine must contend inside with the rangy Lawrence, who leads America East in field goal percentage and is third in rebounding. However, the Bears have held their own on the boards. The Huskies are coached by Willette White, a former assistant at UCLA.

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

MAINE vs. YALE

Time, site: Saturday, 3 p.m.; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 7-7 (2-6 ECAC); Yale 2-11 (1-9)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 2-0-2, 2-2 tie on Feb.11

Key players: Maine – RW Karen Droog (10 goals, 5 assists), LW Jarin Sjogren (6 & 6), C Raffi Wolf (5 & 6), D Kelly Nelson (3 & 8), RW Cindy Biron (3 & 7), C Andrea Keller (2 & 6), G Amanda Cronin (2-5, 2.33 GAA, .908 save percentage); Yale – F Lisa Meyers (5 & 4), F Deanna McDevitt (3 & 5), F Wallis Finger (3 & 2), F Sara Wood (2 & 2), D Lauren Gulka (0 & 3), F Kristin Kattleman (2 & 1), G Nicolette Franck (1-5, 4.53, .886)

Outlook: Yale has had trouble scoring goals, collecting 18 in its 13 games. However, the improved Elis are coming off a 5-0 win over Vermont after losing close games to Providence (2-0) and Northeastern (4-3). The Bears have had problems scoring goals in ECAC play, averaging 2.1 per game. These are the types of games Maine has to win if it is to climb back into contention for a playoff spot. Look for the Bears to shoot the puck as much as possible and crash the net looking for rebounds. The four previous meetings have all been low scoring. They haven’t scored more than five goals between them in any one of the four. Wolf will become the school’s all-time leading scorer with her first goal or assist. She is tied with Allison Lorenz with 75 points.

MAINE vs. PRINCETON

Time, site: Sunday, 3 p.m.; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: (entering Saturday’s games) Maine 7-7 (2-6 ECAC); Princeton 6-6-2 (2-6-2 ECAC)

Series, last meeting: Princeton leads 4-0, Princeton won 4-2 on Feb. 12

Key players: Princeton – F Andrea Kilbourne (10 & 14), F Abbey Fox (5 & 10), F Gretchen Anderson (5 & 5), F Nikola Holmes (4 & 4), D Aviva Grumet-Morris (1 & 5), D Laura Hays (3 & 1), G Megan Van Beusekom (3-3-2, 2.38, .907)

Outlook: Maine has been outscored 17-6 in its four losses to Princeton. Van Beusekom was the ECAC Rookie of the Week for the week of Dec. 11 as she made 41 saves on 45 shots in a 1-1 tie with Providence and 3-1 loss to Northeastern. The Tigers were 4-1-1 in their previous six games prior to Saturday’s game at New Hampshire. Maine faced Yale Saturday. Maine has received 42 percent of its offense from newcomers. Wolf is the only Bear with more than one game-winning goal as she has two.