Maine vs. Vermont

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

Records: Maine 8-5 (1-1 America East), Vermont 7-5 (2-0)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 40-17; Maine won 73-61 on Feb. 4, 2001

Key players: Maine – 6-1 F Heather Ernest (12.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg), 5-7 G Missy Traversi (11.4 ppg, 2.3 apg, 1.7 spg), 5-9 G Melissa Heon (9.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.8 spg), 6-0 F Monica Peterson (8.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg), 6-1 F Julie Veilleux (7.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg), 5-7 G Kim Corbitt (6.6 ppg, 2.0 apg); Vermont – 6-0 F Aaron Yantzi (10.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg), 6-1 F Lani Boardman (9.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg), 5-9 G Libby Smith (8.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.2 apg), 6-1 F Katie McNamara (7.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg), 6-0 G Dawn Cressman (7.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.3 apg)

Outlook: The Bears hope to get back on track in this key conference game. UMaine, coming off Saturday’s 60-52 loss at Stony Brook, has struggled with consistency, especially on offense, where the Bears rank last in AE with .383 FG percentage. Vermont beat Boston U. and Northeastern last weekend without all-league guard Morgan Hall (11.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg), who is questionable tonight with a hip flexor injury. The Cats lead the league in FG percentage (.425), FT percentage (.780) and 3-pointers (5.8). UVM also is without Portland’s Morgan Brownlee (5.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg), who has taken a leave of absence for personal reasons. UMaine must rebound effectively, take advantage of transition chances and avoid letting UVM’s 3-point threats get open, though the Cats are improved inside with the emergence of Yantzi and freshman McNamara.