MEN’S BASKETBALL
Maine vs. Northeastern
Time, site: Sunday, 3:30 p.m.; Solomon Court, Boston, Mass.
Records: Maine 8-11 (5-3 America East); Northeastern 4-16 (2-7)
Series, last meeting: Northeastern leads 56-42; NU won 91-85 on 2/23/01
Key players: Maine – 6-3 G/F Errick Greene (19.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.8 apg), 7-0 C Justin Rowe (12.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 4.2 bpg), 6-7 F Clayton Brown (12.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg), 6-2 G Derrick Jackson (7.6 ppg, 3.2 apg), 6-6 F Joe Campbell (6.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg); Northeastern – 6-3 G Aaron Davis (11.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg), 5-11 G Jean Bain (10.6 ppg, 1.7 rpg), 6-5 F Tim West (6.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg), 6-0 G Jamaar Walker (4.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg), 6-5 G Ricky Cranford (7.7 ppg, 1.9 rpg)
Outlook: The teams present vastly different looks: Maine’s frontcourt averages 6-foot-8, while none of Northeastern’s top nine players stands that tall. Rowe could dominate, much as he did against Binghamton on Thursday (24 points, seven rebounds, six blocks). Cranford is explosive and was the fifth-leading scorer in the league last season and was a third-team all-league pick. If the tempo is high, Cranford could break out – he’s best in up-and-down games. Binghamton had success knocking Maine out of synch when it extended its defense and utilized its quickness. If Northeastern uses the same tactic, they may be vulnerable to backdoor cuts and dunks … if Maine’s ballhandlers can get enough space to make the passes.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Maine vs. Northeastern
Time, site: Sunday, 1 p.m.; Solomon Court, Boston, Mass.
Records: Maine 11-7 (4-3 America East); Northeastern 4-16 (2-7)
Series, last meeting: Maine leads 26-18; Maine won 61-51 on 2/24/01
Key players: Maine – 6-1 F Heather Ernest (13.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg), 5-7 G Missy Traversi (10.0 ppg, 2.7 apg, 1.3 spg), 5-9 G Melissa Heon (9.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.9 spg), 6-0 F Monica Peterson (8.6 ppg, 8.0 rpg), 5-7 G Kim Corbitt (7.3 ppg, 2.2 apg), 6-1 G/F Julie Veilleux (7.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.7 apg); Northeastern – 5-10 G Melissa Kowalski (12.6 ppg, 2.5 apg), 6-1 F Francesca Vanin (12.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg), 5-9 G/F Joi Jefferson (11.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.8 spg), 5-10 F Genny Caruso (10.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg), 5-8 G Lizzie Demor (5.6 ppg, 3.0 apg)
Outlook: The Bears play for only the third time in 15 days needing a win to stay in the top 50 percent in a tight league race. UMaine has won three of its last four, while Northeastern has lost seven of nine. The Bears should be able to handle the Huskies man-to-man and contest their 3-point shooters (5.5 per game). Defense has been the biggest problem for the Huskies, who rank ninth in AE scoring defense (71.2 ppg) and FG pct. defense (.434). NU features a Rookie of the Year candidate in Vanin, who is sixth in the league in scoring and eighth in rebounding and is the Huskies’ top inside threat. UMaine should be able to take advantage of its height advantage in the paint provided by backup centers 6-foot-3 Eva Moldre and 6-6 Nicole Jay.
WOMEN’S HOCKEY
Maine vs. Vermont
Time, site: Saturday, Sunday, 2 p.m.; Alfond Arena, Orono
Records: Maine 11-12-2; Vermont 1-19-1
Series, last meeting: 0-0-1, 3-3 tie on 11/23/97
Key players: Maine – LW Meagan Aarts (18 goals, 16 assists), D Kelly Nelson (3 & 13), C Cheryl White (3 & 8), LW Tristan Desmet (6 & 4), C Nicole Munro (6 & 4), D Tracy Caridade (3 & 3), G Dawn Froats (5-4, 2.94 GAA, .890 save percentage); Vermont – C Katie Gannon (2 & 1), W Heather Fifield (2 & 1), C-W Steph Cole (1 & 2), C-W Meredith Layton (2 & 0), D Tara Jahn (0 & 2), D Ashleigh Hochbrunn (0 & 0), G Tiffany Hayes (1-14-1, 4.50, .911)
Outlook: Maine is gunning for its fourth and fifth straight wins against a young Vermont team in its first season of Division I hockey. Vermont is a third-year varsity program without athletic scholarships. Vermont, 0-10 in the ECAC Women’s North League, has scored only eight goals this season and just one in its last seven games. Hayes is very good and could keep her team close. Vermont has allowed 97 goals. The Bears will regain the services of winger Christine Lane, who has missed 19 games with a concussion. Right wing and 19-goal scorer Karen Droog (separated shoulder) may return Sunday. The Bears may be able to capitalize on their power play because Vermont has surrendered 21 power-play goals in 62 chances. Maine has been a good third-period team, outscoring its opponents 39-25.B.5
Comments
comments for this post are closed