UMaine capsules

Women’s basketball

MAINE vs. NORTHEASTERN

Time, site: Saturday, 1 p.m.; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 11-14 (8-8 America East); Northeastern 12-13 (8-8)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 25-18; Northeastern won 67-64 on Jan. 7

Key players: Maine – 6-1 F Heather Ernest (14.1 ppg, 10.8 rpg), 5-11 F Kizzy Lopez (11.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.2 spg), 5-9 G Tracy Guerrette (6.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.4 apg), 5-9 G Melissa Heon (6.0 ppg), 6-1 F Anna James (5.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg), 5-9 G Ellen Geraghty (7.8 ppg); Northeastern – 5-10 G Melissa Kowalski (12.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg), 6-3 C Lani Lawrence (10.4 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 1.4 bpg), 5-10 G/F Genny Caruso (9.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.5 apg), 5-4 G Aisha Williams (7.6 ppg, 3.1 apg), 5-8 G Laurie Harris (7.5 ppg)

Outlook: The Bears, playing their final home game, can wrap up the No. 4 tournament seed with a victory, but could slip as low as sixth place with a loss. UMaine has lost two in a row, including Friday night’s 61-54 setback to Boston University. The Huskies also can clinch fourth place with a victory. However, NU has dropped three of its last four, including Friday’s 69-66 loss at New Hampshire. The Bears have also been a more effective rebounding team, but Lawrence presents a tough inside matchup for Ernest and James. The Bears need to establish dribble penetration and force the Huskies to play interior defense. A key for UMaine is the play of senior Lopez in her final home game. The Bears are 1-8 this season when she has scored fewer than 10 points.

Men’s basketball

MAINE vs. BOSTON UNIVERSITY

Time, site: 1 p.m. Sunday, Case Gym, Boston

Records: Maine 17-8 (10-6 America East before Friday’s game), BU 11-13 (7-9)

Series, last meeting: BU leads 37-35, BU won 73-65 on Dec. 12

Key players: Maine – 6-10 F Julian Dunkley (15.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg before Friday’s game at Northeastern), 6-6 F Carvell Ammons (15.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg), 6-2 G Huggy Dye (13.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg), 6-3 G Errick Greene (10.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg), 6-2 G Derrick Jackson 6.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg);Boston U – 6-6 F Jason Grochowalski (12.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg), 6-6 F Paul Seymour (11.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg), 5-9 G Matt Turner (9.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg), 6-7 F Ryan Butt (9.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg), 6-6 F Stijn Dhondt (7.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg)

Outlook: The Terriers handed the Bears a rare home loss back in December, and UMaine looks to retaliate with a road win of their own. Butt proved to be a difficult matchup for UMaine in the first meeting: He’s big. He’s wide. And he possesses a nice array of moves and a soft touch. The Terriers are patient and have some solid shooters. Each of the top six scorers is willing to fire up shots from behind the 3-point stripe. On defense, the Terriers stymied Maine with zone coverage in Orono. The Bears want to attack, and are most effective when their offense begins with aggressiveness and works its way back to the perimeter. Settling for the first shot you see against BU sometimes means you end up heaving 3-pointers when four or five passes would have resulted in something a bit better.