MEN’S BASKETBALL

Maine vs. Hartford

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

Records: Maine 5-10 (2-2 America East), Hartford 4-12 (2-2)

Series, last meeting: tied 19-19; UMaine won 66-63 on Feb. 1, 2001

Key players: Maine – 6-3 G Errick Greene (20.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg), 6-7 F Clayton Brown (15.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg), 7-0 C Justin Rowe (13.5 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 4.2 bpg), 6-2 G Derrick Jackson (7.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg), 6-6 F Joe Campbell (5.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg); Hartford – 6-7 F Deon Saunders (11.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg), 5-10 G Ryan Stys (10.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg), 6-6 F Pierre Johnson (9.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg), 6-7 F Junior Amous (9.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg), 6-8 F/C Josh Odugbela (6.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg)

Outlook: The Hawks lineup has been bolstered by addition of Saunders, who joined them at midsemester break and has played four games. Hartford isn’t the patsy that league teams beat up on last year: Despite its 4-12 mark, it already has two league wins. It managed just one America East victory last season. Stys established himself as a perimeter threat as a freshman last year but has struggled a bit thus far, shooting just .286 from beyond the 3-point arc. The Hawks are shooting just .259 as a team from beyond the stripe. The Black Bears counter with an attack led by the league’s leading scorer in Greene and its top low-post force in Rowe, who is one of the nation’s top shot-blockers.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Maine vs. Hartford

Time, site: Thursday, 7 p.m.; Chase Family Arena, West Hartford, Conn.

Records: Maine 9-6 (2-2 America East); Hartford 6-8 (2-1)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 30-5; Hartford won 70-55 on 3/8/01

Key players: Maine – 6-1 F Heather Ernest (12.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg), 5-7 G Missy Traversi (10.5 ppg, 2.5 apg, 1.5 spg), 5-9 G Melissa Heon (9.5 ppg, 2.8 apg, 2.1 spg), 6-0 F Monica Peterson (8.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg), 6-1 G/F Julie Veilleux (8.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg), 5-7 G Kim Corbitt (6.3 ppg); Hartford – 5-10 F Janeka Lopp (12.8 ppg), 6-3 C Kenitra Johnson (11.9 ppg, 8.3 rpg), 5-8 G Dorcas Miller (10.1 ppg), 5-7 G Angie Pezzetta (6.5 ppg, 3.4 apg), 5-7 G Cheri Eleazer (5.5 ppg)

Outlook: The Bears hit the road against the Hawks, who have won two in a row against UMaine, including last year’s AE quarterfinal. UMaine’s depth will be tested against Hartford, which has 10 players averaging at least 12 minutes per game. The Bears must avoid getting into a run-and-gun game with the speedy Hawks. UMaine also must concentrate on rebounding, especially limiting Hartford’s second shots as Johnson is a tough matchup in the post. UH is a solid defensive club (60 ppg) and leads the league with a .424 FG pct. However, UMaine ranks first while holding opponents to 36 percent shooting and also leads in rebound margin (+6.3 rpg). Lopp and Miller are 3-point threats. Both teams are turnover-prone, which might lead to a fast-paced game.