UMaine capsules

Women’s Basketball

MAINE vs. YALE

Time, site: Saturday, 2 p.m.; Cumberland County Civic Ctr., Portland

Records: Maine 7-4; Yale 3-8

Series, last meeting: 1st meeting

Key players: Maine – 6-1 F Heather Ernest (20.9 ppg, 10.0 rpg, .557 FG pct.), 5-9 G Melissa Heon (10.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.8 apg, 2.6 spg), 6-1 G/F Julie Veilleux (9.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg), 5-7 G Missy Traversi (8.4 ppg, 2.3 apg, .870 FT pct.), 6-3 C Abby Schrader (7.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg), 5-7 G Kim Corbitt (5.5 ppg, 3.8 apg); Yale – 6-0 F/C Christina Phillips (11.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg), 6-1 F Lindsay Page (10.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg), 5-11 G/F Tory Mauseth (9.0 ppg, 2.3 apg), 5-11 G Bonnie Smith (8.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg), 5-11 G Morgan Richards (6.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg)

Outlook: The Bears make their first appearance in Portland since 1998 for a nonleague game against the Bulldogs. UMaine has won three straight and five of six, while Yale has won two in a row after five consecutive losses. The Bears must adjust to playing in an unfamiliar setting and must rebound well as Yale averages 41.8 rpg. UMaine needs to respect the Bulldogs’ 3-point threats and may benefit from pressuring their guards as Yale has two starting guards out with injuries. Yale’s Smith was an All-Maine second-team pick at Messalonskee High in Oakland. She’s averaging 16 ppg in her last two games. UMaine continues to work for sustained defensive intensity, unselfishness, and scoring balance. Ernest continues to lead the way statistically for the Bears.

Women’s Hockey

MAINE vs. BOSTON COLLEGE

Time, site: Saturday, 1 p.m., Sunday, 1 p.m.; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 5-7-2 (0-4 Hockey East); BC 7-7-2 (0-2-2)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 5-2-2; Maine 5-3 on Feb. 23, 2002

Key players: Maine – RW Karen Droog (7 goals, 2 assists), LW Meagan Aarts (5 & 4), C Nicole Munro (3 & 3), C Andrea Steranko (1 & 5), D Raffi Wolf (1 & 3), G Lara Smart (2-6-1, 2.43 goals-against average, .925 save percentage), G Dawn Froats (3-1-1, 1.97, .913); Boston College – RW Alaina Clark (8 & 7), C Jaclyn Kryzak (5 & 6), RW Kerri Sanders (5 & 6), D Genevieve Richardson (4 & 7), C Thia Connolly (3 & 7), LW Lindsey Bazzone (6 & 3), G Alison Quandt (5-1-1, 1.89, .924)

Outlook: Both teams since they are the league’s cellar-dwellers and in desperate need of wins. Quandt was the HE Rookie of the Month with her 1-1-1 record, 2.60 GAA, and .917 save percentage. Maine swept Colgate (5-0, 3-1) Monday and Tuesday, their first two-game win streak this season. BC, coming off losses to Princeton (4-1) and Brown (6-2), is improved and has more firepower than in previous years. Maine has to do a better job low in the offensive zone and on the special teams. They must also protect the front of their net. Linemates Droog and Aarts, 25-goal scorers a year ago, snapped out of scoring slumps against Colgate as Droog had three the first night and Aarts had two the next night. They have to continue producing.