Maine vs. Istrobanka Lokomotiva (Slovak Republic)

Time, site: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. (exhibition); Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 0-0; Istrobanka 0-0

Key players: Maine – 6-1 F Heather Ernest, (12.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg last season), 5-9 G Melissa Heon (10.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.7 spg), 5-11 F Monica Peterson (9.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg), 5-7 G Missy Traversi (10.3 ppg, 3.1 apg), 6-1 G/F Julie Veilleux (6.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg), 5-7 G Kim Corbitt (7.0 ppg); Istrobanka Lokomotiva – 6-0 F Jelena Marencikova (Urainian national team), 6-3 C Lucia Borcinova (Slovak national team), 5-9 G/F Renata Plakova (Slovak national team), 6-1 F Silvia Borcinova (Slovak national team), 5-7 G Timea Szijartova

Outlook: Coach Sharon Versyp unveils a new, improved, bigger Black Bear squad against a club team from the Slovak Republic. UMaine’s mission: find out how the newcomers mesh with the veterans under game conditions. The Bears want to force the tempo and run, which should be a good match against the Europeans, who generally play a wide-open style. Istrobanka has good height overall and features Marencikova, a 34-year-old former Olympian. UMaine’s defense, and its transition to defense, should get a good test. Versyp will be scrutinizing the Bears’ ability to execute their offensive sets. Orono is the first stop on a 10-game U.S. tour for Istrobanka, which also will face UMaine opponents Dartmouth, New Hampshire, Boston University and Rhode Island.