Women’s basketball

25th Lady Griz Holiday Classic

MAINE vs. MONTANA

Time, site: Tuesday, 9 p.m.; Dahlberg Arena, Missoula, Mont.

Records: Maine 4-4, Montana 4-4

Series, last meeting: Montana leads 1-0; Montana 66-56 on 11/30/02

Key players: Maine – 5-7 G Missy Traversi (12.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg, .944 FT pct.), 6-1 F Bracey Barker (12.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg, .508 FG pct.), 6-0 G/F Monica Peterson (10.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 5.00 FG pct.), 5-7 G Kim Corbitt (7.7 ppg, 4.1 apg), 6-3 C Abby Schrader (6.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.3 bpg), 5-9 G Ashley Underwood (5.4 ppg); Montana – 6-3 C Hollie Tyler (13.5 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 4.6 bpg, .448 FG pct.), 5-9 G Katie Edwards (11.0 ppg), 6-0 F Johanna Closson (9.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg, .913 FT pct.), 5-10 G Juliann Keller (6.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg), 5-10 G Lynsey Monaco (4.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg)

Outlook: The Bears return to action at the site of last March’s NCAA Tournament game against Texas Tech. UMaine, which beat Michigan on Dec. 18, faces a Montana team that is amidst a three-game losing streak, including a 55-49 setback at Miami on Dec. 20. The Bears have won four of their last five. UMaine must contend with a formidable post player in Tyler, who is big and strong. The defensive burden likely will fall to Schrader, Barker, and other helpers. The Bears must rebound effectively to initiate their fast-break attack and limit Montana’s second shots. They also must attack the Grizzlies’ 2-3 zone defense in different ways.

Men’s hockey

Everblades College Classic

MAINE vs. St. CLOUD STATE

Time, site: Tuesday, 4 p.m., Germain Arena, Estero, Fla.

Records: Maine 10-7-2, St. Cloud (Minn.) State 8-9-1

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 5-1; St. Cloud St. 6-2 on 10/13/01

Key players: Maine – C Derek Damon (10 goals, 7 assists), C Jon Jankus (4 & 10), RW Brent Shepheard (7 & 6), RW John Ronan (6 & 6), RW Greg Moore (7 & 3), D Steve Mullin (0 & 3), G Jimmy Howard (9-7-2, 2.25 goals-against average, .908); St. Cloud St. – RW Dave Iannazzo (8 & 8), D Justin Fletcher (4 & 8), LW Joe Jensen (4 & 8), C Peter Szabo (3 & 8), RW Andrew Gordon (7 & 3), LW Mike Doyle (4 & 4), G Tim Boron (4-6-1, 2.68, .913)

Outlook: This will be St. Cloud State’s first appearance in the tournament while Maine has played in it all four years. Boron was the WCHA Defensive Player of the Week as he stopped 63 of 68 shots in a pair of losses to No. 1 Minnesota on Dec. 10-11. Both teams are ranked in the top seven nationally on the penalty kill but both gave up three power-play goals in their last game. Maine has the nation’s third best penalty-killing percentage (88.5 percent) and St. Cloud State’s is seventh best (88.0). St. Cloud will be without second-leading scorer Billy Hengen (hand injury) and defenseman Casey Borer (World Junior Tournament). Boston College, 7-3-3, and Cornell, 7-2-2, meet in the 7:30 semifinal. The consolation and championship games will be at 4 and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday.