Women’s Basketball

MAINE vs. DRAKE

Time, site: Sunday, 2 p.m.; Knapp Center, Des Moines, Iowa

Records: Maine 3-2; Drake 2-2

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 1-0; Maine 84-72 on 12/8/90

Key players: Maine – 6-1 F Heather Ernest (21.3 ppg, 8.8 rpg, .800 FT pct.), 6-1 G/F Julie Veilleux (10.3 ppg, 3.0 apg, .429 3-pt. FG pct.), 5-9 G Melissa Heon (9.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.0 apg, 2.0 spg), 5-7 G Missy Traversi (4.5 ppg, .875 FT pct.), 5-7 G Kim Corbitt (3.3 ppg, 2.5 apg), 6-0 F Monica Peterson (3.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg); Drake – 6-3 G/F Jill Martin (12.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg), 5-6 G Mandy Kappel (8.0 ppg), 6-1 F Martha Chaput (7.0 ppg), 5-11 F Erin Dohrmann (6.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg), 5-8 G Linda Sayavongchanh (6.7 ppg, 3.3 spg), 5-11 G/F Allison Burchill (5.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg)

Outlook: This one could be a defensive struggle. UMaine is flying high coming off Friday’s win at Wisconsin-Green Bay while Drake, which plays in the Missouri Valley Conference, knocked off Michigan 70-55 Friday. The Bears will try to push the tempo against the Bulldogs, who have shot only 40 percent and don’t have much of a 3-point attack (22 percent). Drake dropped a 60-57 decision Nov. 22 to Marquette, which beat UMaine 57-49 eight days later. The Bulldogs can go big inside if needed, but aren’t as dangerous offensively as the UWGB team the Bears faced Friday. UMaine will try to utilize its inside game behind Ernest and get to the foul line with dribble penetration by the guards, maintaining good scoring balance.

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

MAINE vs. NORTHEASTERN

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

Records: Maine 4-7-2 (3-1 Hockey East); NU 7-3-2 (1-2-1)

Series, last meeting: NU leads 9-3; Maine 2-1 (OT) on 2/16/03

Key players: Maine – LW Meagan Aarts (4 goals, 5 assists), RW Karen Droog (4 & 5), C Katie Sunstrum (4 & 1), D Morgan Janusc (0 & 4), RW Sonia Corriveau (3 & 0), D Kelly Law (2 & 0), G Lara Smart (4-7-2, 2.57 goals-against average, .919 save percentage); Northeastern – RW Cyndy Kenyon (6 & 8), C Marie Desrosiers (5 & 5), D Theresa Ella (3 & 6), C Amy Goodney (4 & 3), D Rebecca Peters (0 & 4), G Katy Augustyn (5-2, 1.99, .930), G Chanda Gunn (2-1-2, 1.16, .961)

Outlook: The Huskies graduated five of their top six scorers. Eighteen of their 20 players will be freshmen or sophomores. Outstanding senior Gunn, who stopped 71 of 75 shots in NU’s three games (2-1) against Maine last year, could return from a knee injury but, if not, Augustyn was the Hockey East Rookie of the Month. She posted three shutouts in November. Maine has received 12 of its 23 goals from linemates Aarts, Sunstrum, and Droog and needs production from its other lines. The Huskies have good balance and have been opportunistic. Maine has to get as many pucks on goal as possible and crash the net looking for rebounds, tip-ins, and garbage goals. The Huskies’ all-freshman line of Crystal Rochon-Marie Desrosiers-Mia Mucci has given them a lift. Smart has had an exceptional year for the Bears.