Women’s Basketball

MAINE vs. HARTFORD

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

Records: Maine 13-5 (8-0 America East); Hartford 16-3 (7-1)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 34-7; Maine 71-51 on 3/13/03

Key players: Maine – 6-1 F Heather Ernest (17.1 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 1.7 spg), 5-9 Melissa Heon (12.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.9 apg, .429 3-pt. pct.), 6-1 G/F Julie Veilleux (9.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, .903 FT pct.), Monica Peterson (7.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg, .495 FT pct.), 5-7 G Kim Corbitt (4.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.7 apg); 6-3 F Abby Schrader (4.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg); Hartford – 5-9 G Ikea Witt (11.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg, .810 FT pct.), 5-8 G Erika Messam (10.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.7 apg, 2.5 spg), 5-9 G Liz Stich (10.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg), 6-2 C Tanika Price (8.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg), 5-5 G Bridget Murray (5.4 ppg, 2.1 apg)

Outlook: This game brings together the league’s two stingiest defenses. Hartford is first in AE scoring defense (52.0 ppg) and second in FG pct. defense (.376), while UMaine is second (53.1) and first (.360), respectively, in those categories. The Bears must get back quickly in transition to avoid giving up easy baskets, but they also must avoid sending the Hawks to the foul line. UMaine also may need some contributions from its bench to avoid fatigue in a high-intensity ballgame, especially with guard Missy Traversi sidelined by injury. The Bears’ must keep the Hawks off the offensive boards to limit second-chance points.

Men’s Basketball

MAINE vs. HARTFORD

Time, site: Wednesday, 7 p.m.; Chase Arena, Hartford, Conn.

Records: Maine 12-7 (6-4 in America East), Hartford 9-9 (4-5)

Series, last meeting: Hartford leads 22-21; Maine 87-63 on 1/2/04

Key players: Maine – 6-2 G Kevin Reed (14.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.3 spg), 6-3 G Eric Dobson (12.8 ppg, 5.4 apg, 3.7 rpg), 6-10 F Mark Flavin (11.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.2 bpg) , 6-7 G-F Joe Campbell (7.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg), 6-3 G Chris Markwood (5.5 ppg, 2.6 apg, 1.7 rpg); Hartford – 6-2 G Aaron Cook (14.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.8 spg), 6-0 G Ryan Stys (13.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.0 apg), 6-4 G Jerell Parker (8.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg), 5-11 G Charles Ford (7.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.7 apg), 6-4 F Robert “Bo” Taylor (6.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg)

Outlook: The Hawks may be 9-9 overall and a team that lost to Maine by 24 a month ago, but they’ve won five of their last six games. Maine is averaging 6.2 more points per game than its opponents while the Hawks are scoring 63.7 per game while giving up 66.7. Maine, on the other hand, is committing 15.8 turnovers per game to opponents’ 14.1 and Hartford is making 16.5 to opponents’ 16.0. The Bears should be able to control the boards, given the rebounding being done by their guards – specifically Campbell – and Flavin lately. If the Bears limit their turnovers and shoot reasonably close to their average (41.9 percent from the field), they should notch their fourth win in the last five games vs. Hartford.