UMaine capsules

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Maine vs. Albany

Time, site: Sunday, 1 p.m.; Recreation & Convocation Center, Albany, N.Y.

Records: Maine 4-9 (1-1 America East) before Friday, Albany 2-9 (0-2)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 1-0; Maine won 59-52 on 1/3/02

Key players: Maine – 6-3 G Errick Greene (21.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg), 7-0 C Justin Rowe (13.7 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 4.15 bpg), 6-7 F Clayton Brown (15.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg), 6-2 G Derrick Jackson (5.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg), 6-6 F Joe Campbell (5.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg); Albany – 6-5 F Will Brand (10.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg), 6-1 G Antione Johnson (10.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg), 5-7 G Earv Opong (7.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg), 6-5 F Rasheed Peterson (5.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg), 6-7 F Karim Outtara (3.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg)

Outlook: The Black Bears edged a depleted Albany squad a week and a half ago, and the Great Danes have had more time to deal with the defections of their star, E.J. Gallup, and a substitute. Both, along with two walk-ons, have left the program. Johnson is a dangerous threat from the perimeter while the speedy Opong looks to penetrate and dish to teammates. The Black Bears are coming off a game at league frontrunner Vermont and can’t afford a letdown. Road league wins are valuable, and a loss at Albany is one the Bears would regret come March, when the league tourney seeds are set. Albany will try to keep Maine from lobbing to Rowe by applying perimeter pressure.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Maine vs. Albany

Time, site: Saturday, noon; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 8-6 (1-2 America East), Albany 4-8 (0-1)

Series, last meeting: first meeting

Key players: Maine – 6-1 F Heather Ernest (12.2 ppg, 7.3 rpg), 5-7 G Missy Traversi (10.8 ppg, 2.6 apg), 5-9 G Melissa Heon (8.7 ppg, 2.6 apg, 1.9 spg), 6-1 G/F Julie Veilleux (8.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg), 6-0 F Monica Peterson (8.1 ppg, 7.9 rpg), 5-9 G Tracy Guerrette (4.5 ppg); Albany – 6-4 C Danielle Hutcheson (12.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 1.4 bpg), 5-11 F Becky Ayers (11.0 ppg), 5-8 G Jess McGinlay (10.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg), 5-4 G Kathryn Hemlock (7.3 ppg, 3.6 apg, 1.7 spg), 6-3 F/C Cara Caffell (4.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg)

Outlook: The Bears look to snap a two-game losing streak against the Great Danes, who are newcomers to the conference. UMaine, coming off Thursday’s disappointing 59-58 loss to Vermont, must shore up its post defense against Albany. The Danes lost to New Hampshire a week ago in their AE debut. Albany has some depth, having played nine players an average of at least 11.6 minutes. The Danes’ rank last in the league in scoring (60.6 ppg) and rebound margin (-4.9). The Bears continue to play outstanding defense, having allowed only 57.4 ppg over the last 10 contests. UMaine hopes Guerrette can provide a 3-point presence to help open up the inside. Mari Warner, a 1981 UMaine graduate, is in her 19th season Albany.

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

Maine vs. Northeastern

Time, site: Saturday, 7 p.m., Sunday, 3 p.m.; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 8-9-2 (2-6-2 Eastern Women’s Hockey League), Northeastern 14-2 (8-2 EE)

Series, last meeting: NU 5-1; NU 5-4 on 1/20/01

Key players: Maine – LW Meagan Aarts (14 goals, 11 assists), RW Karen Droog (16 & 8), C Jarin Sjogren (5 & 12), D Kelly Nelson (2 & 10), LW Tristan Desmet (4 & 4), G Lara Smart (3-3, 2.30 GAA, .907 save percentage); Northeastern – C Brooke Whitney (12 & 13), RW Brooke White (7 & 16), D Kim Greene (10 & 11), LW Michelle Lorion (4 & 6), C Lindsay Ball (4 & 5), D Erica Archambeau (1 & 6), G Chanda Gunn (12-2, 1.44, .945)

Outlook: The Huskies were ranked third in both national polls this week. However, they are coming off a 3-1 loss to a University of Connecticut team the Bears beat 4-2. White played for the U.S. national team last year before returning to NU, and Whitney was a second team All-American. Greene is one of the nation’s top scoring defensemen. The line of Aarts-Sjogren-Droog scored all three Maine goals in a 3-3 tie with Boston College on Wednesday. NU hasn’t played since Jan. 4 and will be rested. The Bears will need to play strong positional hockey and avoid the lapse they had against BC which allowed the Eagles to score all three goals in a span of 2:34. NU is much more explosive than BC.