UMaine Capsules

Men’s Basketball

MAINE vs. BINGHAMTON

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

Records: Maine 7-9 (2-2 in America East), Binghamton 8-6 (3-1)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 2-0; Maine 80-69 on 1/31/02

Key players: Maine – 6-1 G Kevin Reed (13.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg), 7-0 C Justin Rowe (11.5 ppg, 10.9 rpg, 4.6 bpg), 6-4 F Rickey White (13.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg), 6-2 G Eric Dobson (9.3 ppg, 5.0 apg, 3.7 rpg), 6-4 F Clayton Brown (9.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg), 6-6 G-F Joe Campbell (10.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg); Binghamton – 6-1 G Anthony Green (17.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.7 apg), 6-6 F Jeffrey St. Fort (9.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg), 6-3 G Brandon Carter (7.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg), 7-0 C Nick Billings (6.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 4.1 bpg), 6-8 F Stanley Ocitti (6.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg), 6-1 G Charles Baker (5.1 ppg)

Outlook: Size-wise, the Bearcats match up well with the Black Bears, starting at center. Billings and Rowe are 1-2, respectively in the league among shot blockers with 58 and 51 blocks, respectively. Reed and Green are the other halves of their team’s solid inside-outside combos. Green makes the Bearcats go, although he shot 1-for-13 Wednesday and Binghamton still handed Hartford its first AE loss. The Bears want to make Green work hard for shots and force others to beat them. This is a second straight tough test for the Bears, who overcame 26 turnovers by beating Northeastern in every other major category. Head coach John Giannini is two wins away from 100 in his seven-year Maine career.

Women’s Basketball

MAINE vs. BINGHAMTON

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

Records: Maine 9-4 (2-0 America East); Binghamton 5-6 (2-0)

Series, last meeting: tied 1-1; Binghamton 85-71 on 1/19/02

Key players: Maine – 6-1 F Heather Ernest (21.1 ppg, 9.8 rpg, .564 FG pct., .821 FT pct.), 5-9 G Melissa Heon (10.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.8 apg, 2.4 spg, .825 FT pct.), 6-1 G/F Julie Veilleux (9.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.1 apg), 5-7 G Missy Traversi (8.2 ppg, 2.4 apg), 5-11 F Monica Peterson (6.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg), 5-7 G Kim Corbitt (5.2 ppg, 3.8 apg, 1.6 spg); Binghamton – 5-9 G Jennifer Blues (11.7 ppg), 6-2 C Nicole Dypolt (9.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.1 bpg), 6-0 F Leala Wegwerth (9.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.9 apg), 5-10 G Kate Townley (6.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 5.8 apg), 5-7 G Laura Scordino (5.4 ppg, .938 FT pct.)

Outlook: The Bears make the 10-hour trek to play the Bearcats, who have bounced back well after losing their top two players to graduation. UMaine must control the rebounding and shoot well in hopes of slowing down Binghamton’s transition game. The Bears want to run when possible and take advantage of their open-court game. The Bearcats, who beat Hartford Wednesday, have been led by freshman Blues and Dypolt, but feature good offensive balance. UMaine, which has won five straight, counters with Ernest and a capable supporting cast. Binghamton is without coach Laurie Kelly, who gave birth Friday to a baby girl. Associate coach Ron Conover will call the shots. Binghamton is 88-10 at home since 1994.

Women’s hockey

MAINE vs. NORTHEASTERN

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

Records: Maine (6-7-3, 1-4-1 Hockey East entering Friday game vs. UConn); Northeastern 5-11-2 (1-5-1 HE)

Series, last meeting: NU leads 7-2; Maine 4-3 on 2/8/02

Key players: Maine – RW Meagan Aarts (7 goals, 7 assists), RW Karen Droog (9 & 2), C Nicole Munro (3 & 4), D Raffi Wolf (1 & 3), D Morgan Janusc (0 & 3), G Dawn Froats (4-1-1 record, 1.64 goals-against average, .925 save percentage), G Lara Smart (2-6-2, 2.46, .921); Northeastern – LW Brooke White (3 & 12), LW Kim Greene (9 & 5), C Rebecca Paul (7 & 5), RW Lori DiGiacomo (2 & 6), D Becky Peters (1 & 2), LW Danielle Keefe (1 & 2), G Chanda Gunn (4-10-2, 2.35, .926)

Outlook: The Huskies have been hurt by the departures of No. 4 scorer Michelle Lorion and fifth-leading point-getter Pamela Pachal, who were dismissed from the team. NU will also be without defenseman Theresa Ella, whose grandfather passed away. Maine played at UConn Friday night while Northeastern hasn’t played since being swept by New Hampshire last weekend by identical 3-0 scores. NU is 0-5-1 in its last six and has scored just seven goals. Maine was 3-0-1 in its last four prior to Friday night’s game, and the Bears have been sparked by the resurgence of last year’s 25-goal scorers, Aarts and Droog. Both teams are fighting for the last two Hockey East tournament berths along with Boston College and UConn.