Women’s basketball

MAINE vs. ALBANY

Time, site: Saturday, 5 p.m., Recreation/Convocation Center, Albany, N.Y.

Records: Maine 13-8 (9-2 America East), Albany 11-9 (6-5)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 8-0, Maine 57-42 on 1/15/05

Key players: Maine – 5-7 G Missy Traversi (13.1 ppg, 3.0 apg, .400 3-pt. pct, .836 FT pct.), 6-1 F Bracey Barker (10.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg, .789 FT pct.), 5-7 G Kim Corbitt (9.5 ppg, 4.2 apg, 1.8 spg, .512 FG pct.,), 6-0 F Monica Peterson (9.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg), 5-9 G Ashley Underwood (8.1 ppg, .366 3-pt. pct., .915 FT pct.); Albany – 6-4 C Danielle Hutcheson (14.3 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 1.6 bpg), 5-8 G Jen Schumacher (12.6 ppg, .394 3-pt. pct., .857 FT pct.), 6-1 F Maree Jones (12.2 ppg, 7.3 rpg), 6-1 G-F Alicia Learn (8.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.1 apg, 2.0 spg), 5-11 G Sherri Mikus (2.7 ppg)

Outlook: The first-place Bears, who keep finding ways to win, seek their seventh straight victory. The fifth-place Great Danes have won four of five, including a win over AE co-leader Hartford. UMaine is 4-1 in AE road games. The keys against Albany are bottling up Hutcheson inside while not allowing Schumacher open 3-point looks. Lindsay Hugstad-Vaa shut down Hutcheson effectively in the first meeting. The Bears must capitalize on transition chances by taking the ball to the basket, getting to the foul line often, and minimizing turnovers. UMaine also needs to keep Albany, an average offensive team, off the offensive boards.

Men’s basketball

MAINE vs. ALBANY

Time, site: Saturday, 7 p.m., Albany, N.Y.

Records: Maine 11-11 (6-7 in America East), Albany 11-11 (7-6)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 6-1, Albany 58-49 on 1/16/05

Key players: Maine – 6-2 G Kevin Reed (12.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.4 spg), 6-10 F Mark Flavin (9.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg), 6-7 G-F Joe Campbell (8.5 ppg, 6.7 rpg), 6-3 G Chris Markwood (7.6 ppg, 4.1 apg); Albany – 6-1 G Jamar Wilson (17.2 ppg, 4.4 apg, 3.2 rpg), 6-2 G Lucious Jordan (15.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg), 6-6 F Levi Levine (10.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg), 7-1 C Kirsten Zoellner (7.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg), 6-6 F Aquawasi St. Hillaire (5.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg)

Outlook: This game shapes up as a battle for fourth place as Maine looks to avenge its first loss to Albany last month. A win would be huge for the battered Black Bears, who will be without leading scorer Ernest Turner 2-4 weeks due to a separated shoulder and who have played .500 ball on the road. Markwood has been banged up with a broken hand and strained left hamstring but may start Saturday. Maine is averaging 64.6 points, 36.2 rebounds, and 18.4 turnovers per game. The Great Danes are averaging 67.5 points, 33.5 rebounds, and 15.4 turnovers per game while giving up 64.1 points and 32.3 boards per game. Wilson has scored at least 10 points in 21 consecutive games. Reed is coming off a season-high 31 points and six steals.

Women’s hockey

MAINE vs. NEW HAMPSHIRE

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

Records: Maine (12-9-3, 3-7-2 Hockey East), UNH (17-5-4, 9-1-2)

Series, last meeting: New Hampshire leads 16-1-2; 3-3 tie on 1/15/05

Key players: Maine – 5-8 F Tristan Desmet (12 goals, 12 assists), 5-6 F Cheryl White (7 & 9), 5-8 F Andrea Steranko (11 & 19), 5-4 F Sonia Corriveau (6 & 8), 5-9 D Julie Poulin (3 & 5), G Rachel Gettings (12-9-2, 2.08 goals-against ave., .894 save pct.); UNH – 5-9 F Nicole Hekle (16 & 24), 5-8 F Stephanie Jones (18 & 14), 5-7 F Lindsay Hansen (5 & 21), 5-10 D Becky Peters (1 & 7), G Melissa Bourdon (14-5-3, 1.91 GAA, .915 save pct.)

Outlook: The fourth-place Black Bears look to improve their Hockey East position against the eighth-ranked and second-place Wildcats. Maine is 1-4-2 in its last seven games, four of those against top-10 teams. The Bears scored one goal or less in four of those contests. UNH beat Maine 1-0 on Jan. 14 in Durham, N.H., then the teams tied the next day. The Bears, who have won five straight home games, are tied with Boston College for the fourth and final playoff spot. Maine must contain Hekle and Jones, two of HE’s top five point producers. UNH is 3-1-2 in its last six outings.