Women’s basketball

MAINE vs. STONY BROOK

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

Records: Maine 9-8 (5-2 America East), Stony Brook 4-12 (2-5)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 5-2, Maine 76-61 on 3/3/04

Key players: Maine – 5-7 G Missy Traversi (12.5 ppg, 2.6 apg, .400 3-pt. pct.), 6-1 F Bracey Barker (10.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg, .797 FT pct.), 6-0 F Monica Peterson (9.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg, .471 FG pct.), 5-7 G Kim Corbitt (9.1 ppg, 4.1 apg, .548 FG pct.), 5-9 G Ashley Underwood (7.6 ppg, .912 FT pct.), 6-3 C Abby Schrader (6.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg); Stony Brook – 5-8 G Mykeema Ford (16.1 ppg, 5.6 apg), 6-0 F-C Jessica Smith (15.0 ppg, 8.1 rpg, .533 FG pct.), 6-2 F Inbar Orion (8.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg, .532 FG pct.), 5-9 G Kelly Watson (8.4 ppg), 6-1 F Dana Ferraro (4.5 ppg, 6.6 rpg)

Outlook: The Bears look for their third straight win while the Seawolves beat Northeastern on Wednesday to snap a five-game losing streak. The difference in this one should be defense. Maine has allowed only 56 ppg in league games, while SBU has given up a league-high 72.3. The Bears’ .454 FG pct. in AE games leads the league and SBU’s forgiving defense has let league foes shoot 46 percent from the field. UMaine will have to contest with the Seawolves’ substantial post attack, paced by 2004 AE Rookie of the Year Smith. The Bears must keep SBU away from the offensive glass and off the foul line. Maine probably will play a fair amount of zone to bottle up the middle and minimize fouls.

Men’s basketball

MAINE vs. STONY BROOK

Time, site: Sunday, 1 p.m., SB Sports Complex, Stony Brook, N.Y.

Records: Maine 9-9 (4-5 America East), Stony Brook 7-11 (2-7)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 8-3, Maine 73-60 on 2/2/05

Key players: Maine – 6-2 G Ernest Turner (15.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.8 apg), 6-2 G Kevin Reed (11.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.2 spg), 6-10 F Mark Flavin (9.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg), 6-7 G-F Joe Campbell (7.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg), 6-3 G Chris Markwood (8.5 ppg, 4.4 apg); SBU – 6-0 G Antwan Hardy (12.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg), 6-7 F-C Cori Spencer (10.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg), 6-2 G Bobby Santiago (9.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.2 apg), 6-5 F Mike Popoko (7.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg), 6-5 F Jairus McCollum (7.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg), 6-5 G-F Mike Orfini (3.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg)

Outlook: With Freddy Petkus looking like a DNP this season with back spasms, the loss of Argentinian 6-4 freshman guard Fefo Sanchez to homesickness, the dismissal of 6-4 guard-forward Jermaine Jackson, and a broken hand for point guard Markwood, the return of Markwood, who feels he’s ahead of schedule on his rehabilitation and wants to return soon, is crucial to a team that – for the most part – has been in an offensive funk the last 31/2 weeks. Markwood’s return would be ironic considering he suffered the injury against SBU on Jan. 2. This is a game the Bears should win, but those are the ones Maine has struggled in. The difference here is that this is almost a must-win game for a team that wants to finish among the top four AE teams.