MAINE vs. BINGHAMTON

Time, site: Wednesday, 7 p.m., Events Center, Vestal, N.Y.

Records: Maine 4-6 (0-0 America East); Binghamton 1-7 (0-0)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 5-1, Maine 64-43 on 2/7/04

Key players: Maine – 5-7 G Missy Traversi (13.2 ppg, .917 FT pct., .390 3-pt. FG pct., 2.7 apg), 6-1 F Bracey Barker (10.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg, .900 FT pct.), 6-0 F Monica Peterson (9.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg, .473 FG pct.), 5-7 G Kim Corbitt (7.2 ppg, 4.3 apg), 6-3 C Abby Schrader (6.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg); Binghamton – 5-11 F Rachel Laws (17.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, .539 FG pct.), 5-9 G Jen Blues (9.9 ppg, .571 FG pct., .556 3-pt. FG pct.), 5-11 F Jen Haubrich (8.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg), 5-7 G Rebecka Lindgren (7.8 ppg, 2.5 apg), 6-2 C Kristin Hibler (3.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg)

Outlook: The Black Bears, coming off a testy nonleague schedule, begin defense of their AE title tonight. UMaine has lost three of four, but already has played five teams among the top 50 in the Ratings Point Index standings among a list of opponents that boasts an average RPI of 110. The Bearcats have dropped six straight, the last four by a total of 10 points. Binghamton leads the league in 3-point percentage (.476), so the Bears must get around screens and contest at the arc. UMaine likely will try to exploit its post game with Barker and Schrader, although Barker has managed only three points combined in her last two games. Containing Laws, the league’s leading scorer and a talented rebounder, and winning the rebounding battle are other keys for the Bears.