Games against Southeastern Conference power Arkansas and perennial Atlantic 10 contender Massachusetts, along with a possible matchup with Final Four entry Michigan State, are among the schedule highlights for the University of Maine men’s basketball team.

Coach John Giannini’s Black Bears, who open the slate in the Preseason National Invitation Tournament at Arkansas, have several challenging non-conference games on the schedule next winter.

“We obviously have three of the nation’s most successful programs on our schedule,” Giannini said. “The majority of our other non-conference opponents are also coming off successful conference campaigns last year. With a lot of road games and a large number of strong opponents, we should be very challenged by our non-conference schedule.”

Arkansas, which reached the Final Four in 1995 and won the national championship in ’94, has made 15 consecutive postseason appearances. The Minutemen, under first-year coach Steve Lappas, have also been a player on the national scene in recent years.

UMaine will play at least 11 non-conference contests before embarking on its revamped America East schedule. Delaware, Hofstra, Drexel and Towson have left the league, while Albany, Stony Brook and Binghamton are newcomers.

After the Preseason NIT, the Bears will sandwich two tournaments around a pair of home games. UMaine faces Texas-San Antonio in the first round of the Florida International Tournament on Nov. 16, then will play either FIU or St. Peter’s in the second round.

The Bears return to Orono for their Nov. 20 home opener against Delaware State, then play host to Troy State on Nov. 25. From there, it’s off to East Lansing, Mich., and the Coca-Cola Spartan Classic.

UMaine opens against Lamar Nov. 30 and then meets either Michigan State or Indiana University/Purdue University at Fort Wayne on Dec. 1. The Bears then play three more road games against Sacred Heart, Norfolk State and Massachusetts. It is the first meeting between the Bears and the Minutemen since the 1977-78 season.

The Bears entertain Brown on Dec. 30 before opening their America East schedule with a Jan. 2 home game against Albany.

UMaine has a difficult league stretch during which is must play seven of its first 10 conference games on the road. The Bears then play five of their last six league games at Alfond Arena.

The first two rounds of the 2002 America East Championship will be played March 2-3 in Boston, while the title game is set for March 9 at the home court of the highest remaining seed.

Ficks Maine’s Woman of Year

Peg Ficks, a May graduate of Bates College in Lewiston, has been honored by the NCAA as Maine’s 2001 Woman of the Year.

Ficks, a field hockey standout from Washington, Conn., is among 51 state winners of the award. The NCAA Woman of the Year program recognizes senior student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletic excellence, service and leadership.

The NCAA will select 10 national finalists in September and announce the 2001 NCAA Woman of the Year at an October awards dinner in Indianapolis.

Ficks, a goalkeeper, was Bates’ career leader in shutouts and was among the Bobcats’ top three all-time in saves, goals-against average and save percentage. She also was a three-year letter winner on the softball team.

Ficks, a 2001 Academic All-America, was an eight-time dean’s list student. She begins teaching English at Poland High School next week.

Bates’ Amanda Colby was Maine’s NCAA Woman of the Year winner last year.