MAINE vs. HOLY CROSS

Time, site: Monday, 2 p.m.; Cumberland County Civic Ctr., Portland

Records: Maine 3-6; Holy Cross 4-7

Series, last meeting: Holy Cross leads 5-2, HC 75-74 on 12/28/02

Key players: Maine – 5-8 G Ashley Underwood (11.7 ppg, .407 3-pt. pct.), 6-1 F Bracey Barker (11.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg, .842 FT pct.), 6-3 C Abby Schrader (10.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.4 bpg), 6-2 F Katie Whittier (10.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg, .710 FG pct.), 5-8 G Ameshia Bryant (5.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg), 5-6 G Margaret Elderton (3.7 ppg, 2.4 apg); Holy Cross – 6-4 F Kaitlin Foley (15.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, .563 FG pct.), 5-11 G Shannon Bush (11.7 ppg, 2.9 apg, .857 FT pct.), 6-2 G Brittany Keil (9.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg), 5-3 G Sarah Placek (8.1 ppg, 2.7 apg), 5-8 G Jessica Conte (.8.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg)

Outlook: The Bears get a final tuneup for Wednesday’s America East opener by taking on the Crusaders. Maine’s tough nonleague schedule continues against a Holy Cross team that is the defending Patriot League champion. The Crusaders have dropped three of four, with Connecticut and Virginia among those losses. The game should feature a post clash between Schrader and Foley, but the Bears should otherwise have an edge up front. HC has a combination of quickness, size, and depth at guard and likes to shoot 3-pointers. Maine needs to limit second shots and keep the Crusaders off the foul line by rebounding well. The Bears’ ability to handle guard pressure and limit their turnovers is again a key.