MAINE vs. NATIONAL WOMEN’S BASKETBALL LEAGUE

Time, site: Thursday, 7 p.m.; Alfond Arena, Orono

Key players: Maine – 6-1 F Heather Ernest (20.0 ppg, 10.2 rpg last season), 6-1 G/F Julie Veilleux (8.0 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.9 apg), 5-9 G Melissa Heon (11.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.0 apg, 2.1 spg), 5-7 G Kim Corbitt (6.3 ppg, 4.5 apg, 1.8 spg), 6-0 F Monica Peterson (7.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg), 5-7 G Missy Traversi (6.5 ppg, 2.2 apg); NWBL Northeast – 6-2 F Rhonda Jo Miller (17 ppg, 10 rpg), 6-5 C Gail Strumpf (15.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg), 5-8 G Meggan Yedsena (12.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg), 5-7 G Angie Pezzetta (3.4 ppg, 2.0 apg), F Emily Nichols (9 ppg, 6 rpg)

Outlook: This is the Bears’ final test before taking on Washington in their regular-season opener at Honolulu on Nov. 22. UMaine played well in an 81-45 exhibition win over UBBC Herzogenburg a week ago, but Versyp is looking for improvement, especially with transition defense. The NWBL squad (2-5) beat Holy Cross on Wednesday and has allowed 86 ppg while scoring 80 ppg. Strumpf is a tough matchup inside, while Miller is a versatile forward. Pezzetta and Cherie Eleazer are former Hartford standouts. Corbitt returns after taking a bump on the head in the Austria game, but freshman Lindsey Hugstad-Vaa will sit out with shin splints. Versyp will again experiment with personnel combinations.