WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Maine vs. Albany

Time, site: Thursday, 7 p.m.; Rec. and Convocation Center, Albany, N.Y.

Records: Maine 13-9 (6-5 America East); Albany 4-17 (0-10)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 1-0; Maine won 88-58 on Jan. 12, 2002

Key players: Maine – 6-1 F Heather Ernest (12.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg), 5-7 G Missy Traversi (10.6 ppg, 2.9 apg), 5-9 G Melissa Heon (10.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.7 spg), 6-0 F Monica Peterson (9.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg), 6-1 G/F Julie Veilleux (7.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg), 5-7 G Kim Corbitt (7.3 ppg, 2.5 apg); Albany – 5-11 G Becky Ayers (12.2 ppg), 6-4 C Danielle Hutcheson (11.6 ppg, 8.1 rpg), 5-8 G Jess McGinlay (11.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.1 apg), 5-4 G Kathryn Hemlock (6.6 ppg, 3.2 apg), 6-3 F Cara Caffell (4.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg)

Outlook: The Bears won’t take anything for granted against the Great Danes, even though Albany is 1-9 at home and winless in conference play. UMaine, which blew out UA earlier this season, could grab a share of third place in the tight league standings with a victory. The Bears are playing the third of five AE games in 11 days and the first of three straight on the road. UMaine must deal with the inside presence of Hutcheson and Caffell without getting into foul trouble. Albany has lost 10 in a row, but has played many teams tough. The Bears need to control the rebounding and get to the foul line often. Albany ranks last in AE in scoring (59 ppg) and rebounding margin (minus-4.5). Albany coach Mari Warner played four seasons at UMaine (1977-81).

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Maine vs. New Hampshire

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

Records: Maine 9-14 (6-6 America East), New Hampshire 10-14 (7-6)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 99-59; Maine won 72-61 on Jan. 27

Key players: Maine – 6-3 G Errick Greene (17.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg), 7-0 C Justin Rowe (13.3 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 4.26 bpg), 6-2 G Derrick Jackson (8.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg), 6-7 F Clayton Brown (11.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg), 6-6 F Joe Campbell (7.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg, .540 3-pt. percentage); New Hampshire – 6-0 G Marcus Bullock (10.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.9 apg), 6-6 F Austin Ganly (15.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg), 6-4 F Chris Brown (14.2 ppg, 10.2 rpg), 6-7 F Assane Faye (6.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg), 6-9 F Kyle Peterson (4.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg)

Outlook: The Black Bears are struggling – they’ve dropped three straight, including two at home – and things won’t get much easier against a UNH squad that has gone 9-4 in its last 13 games. The Bears benefited from Ganly’s sprained ankle in the first meeting, and the Greely (Cumberland Center) product didn’t contribute in the second half. Brown is tenacious on the boards despite his 6-4 height, and must be contained. The Bears have faltered late in games lately, and that trend may be difficult to change: Mistakes continue to crop up at inopportune times. It’s tough to flip a switch and make smart plays when they count, and that’s what the Bears need to do.