MAINE vs. STONY BROOK

Time, site: Wednesday, 7 p.m., SBU Complex, Stony Brook, N.Y.

Records: Maine 18-8 (14-2 America East), Stony Brook 8-17 (6-10)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 6-2, Maine 88-60 on 1/30/05

Key players: Maine – 5-7 G Missy Traversi (13.1 ppg, 3.1 apg, .375 3-pt. pct.), 6-1 F Bracey Barker (11.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg, .498 FG pct.), 5-11 F Monica Peterson (9.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg), 5-7 G Kim Corbitt (9.5 ppg, 4.2 apg, .497 FG pct., .640 3-pt. pct.), 6-3 C Abby Schrader (7.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg), 5-9 G Ashley Underwood (7.8 ppg, .385 3-pt. pct., .906 FT pct.); Stony Brook – 5-8 G Mykeema Ford (17.8 ppg, 5.0 apg, 1.9 spg), 6-0 F/C Jessica Smith (16.0 ppg, 7.8 rpg, .533 FG pct.), 5-10 G Jessie Boylan (7.5 ppg), 6-2 F Inbar Orion (7.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg), 6-1 F Dana Ferraro (4.7 ppg, 7.9 rpg)

Outlook: The Bears, having wrapped up the No. 1 seed for the AE tourney, seek their 12th straight win. The Seawolves are jockeying for position in the standings, trying to avoid a play-in game. SBU has lost three straight. UMaine’s defense was the difference in the first meeting against a high-scoring SBU squad (66.8 ppg in AE). Ford and Smith rank 2 and 3 in AE scoring. The ‘Wolves have allowed league foes to score 73 ppg on 44 percent shooting. The Bears hope to build a big lead, then use the bench to rest the starters with a week left before the tournament. Limiting SBU’s transition points and free-throw opportunities are keys.