WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Maine vs. Binghamton

Time, site: Saturday, 1 p.m.; West Gym, Vestal, N.Y.

Records: Maine 10-6 (3-2 America East); Binghamton 12-3 (3-1)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 1-0; Maine won 63-62 (OT) on 1/3/02

Key players: Maine – 6-1 F Heather Ernest (11.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg), 5-7 G Missy Traversi (10.3 ppg, 2.5 apg), 5-9 G Melissa Heon (9.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.6 apg, 2.0 spg), 6-0 F Monica Peterson (8.6 ppg, 8.5 rpg), 6-1 G/F Julie Veilleux (7.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg), 5-7 G Kim Corbitt (6.5 ppg, 2.1 apg); Binghamton – 5-10 F Sarah Cartmill (17.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.2 spg), 5-10 F Brooke Kelly (9.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.2 apg), 6-0 F Leala Wegwerth (5.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg), 5-10 G Kate Townley (3.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 4.3 apg, 2.2 spg), 5-5 G Andrea Herold (.333 3-point pct.)

Outlook: The Black Bears look to generate some serious momentum with a win against the league-leading Bearcats. UMaine is coming off Thursday’s 58-49 win at Hartford, while Binghamton won 61-50 at Stony Brook. The Bearcats have won 13 straight at home, but have lost senior standout Leah Truncale (16 ppg, 11 rpg) for the season with a knee injury. The game brings together two of AE’s best defensive clubs as UMaine has allowed 60.8 ppg on .359 shooting, while Binghamton has allowed a league-low 55.6 ppg on .364 shooting. The Bears overcame an 18-point deficit to win the first meeting, but must do a better job bottling up Cartmill, who scored 30 in Orono. UMaine needs to control the rebounding action and get to the foul line often.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Maine vs. Binghamton

Time, site: Sunday, 1 p.m.; West Gymnasium, Vestal, N.Y.

Records: Maine 5-11 (2-3 America East), Binghamton 6-10 (3-3)

Series, last meeting: First meeting

Key players: Maine – 6-3 G Errick Greene (20.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg), 6-7 F Clayton Brown (13.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg), 7-0 C Justin Rowe (13.3 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 4.25 bpg), 6-2 G Derrick Jackson (7.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg), 6-6 F Joe Campbell (5.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg); Binghamton – 6-6 F Jeffrey St. Fort (11.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg), 6-4 F Jeffrey Daws (8.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg), 6-0 G Brett Watson (5.2 ppg, 1.6 rpg), 6-1 G Charles Baker (5.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg), 6-8 C Joost Ooms (2.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg)

Outlook: The Bears look to post their second straight road win against a conference newcomer, but it won’t be easy. The Bearcats dropped a one-point decision to perennial national power North Carolina earlier in the year. Binghamton isn’t eligible for the postseason America East tourney until 2004, as it makes the transition to Division I status. Games against the Bearcats do count toward league standings. The Bears need Brown to play better than he has the last two games, during which he has failed to grab any offensive rebounds. Expect him to break loose against the Bearcats. Only one Bearcat scores in double figures, but seven others score more than five a game.