Men’s basketball

MAINE vs. ALBANY

Time, site: Saturday, 7 p.m.; Recreation/Convocation Center, Albany, N.Y.

Records: Maine 5-8 (0-2 America East), Albany 6-6 (3-0)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 6-2; Albany 67-54 on 2/12/05

Key players: Maine – 6-2 G Ernest Turner (17.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.9 apg), 6-1 G Jon Sheets (10.2 ppg, 2.9 apg, 2.5 rpg), 6-6 F Philippe Tchekane Bofia (9.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg), 5-10 G Rashard Turner (8.8 ppg, 3.9 apg), 6-4 G Chris Bruff (6.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg), 6-10 Olli Ahvenniemi (5.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg); Albany – 6-1 G Jamar Wilson (15.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.8 apg), 6-8 F Brent Wilson (11.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg), 5-9 G Jon Iati (10.3 ppg), 6-2 G Lucious Jordan (7.2 ppg), 7-1 C Kirsten Zoellner (7.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg), 6-6 F Levi Levine (7.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg)

Outlook: The Black Bears start the substantial portion of their America East conference schedule against the preseason favorite on the road. The Great Danes have won four straight and are looking for their third straight win over the Bears. Albany features one of the best mixes of size, scoring ability, athleticism, and experience in the conference. The Danes are in unfamiliar territory at the top and are averaging 15.8 turnovers and 66.9 points per game while opponents are averaging 15.9 and 67.7, respectively. Maine is scoring at a 66.0 ppg clip while giving up 65.2. Maine averages 37 rebounds per game and Albany 34.2. This game, which boils down to fundamental execution, could mean the difference between a top three seeding and a lower third seeding for the Bears.

Women’s basketball

MAINE vs. BROWN

Time, site: Saturday, 2 p.m.; Pizzitola Sports Center, Providence, R.I.

Records: Maine 4-7; Brown 4-6

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 4-2; Maine 60-51 on 11/29/02

Key players: Maine – 6-1 G/F Bracey Barker (12.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.5 apg, .840 FT pct.) 5-8 G Ashley Underwood (12.5 ppg, 2.8 apg, .362 3-pt. pct.), 6-3 C Abby Schrader (11.5 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 1.3 bpg), 6-2 F Katie Whittier (10.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, .690 FG pct.), 5-6 G Margaret Elderton (4.0 ppg, 2.4 apg); Brown – 5-8 G Sarah Hayes (15.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.8 apg, 2.5 spg), 5-9 G Colleen Kelly (12.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.4 spg, .477 3-pt. pct.), 5-10 G/F Ashley King-Bischof (8.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg), 5-9 G Lena McAfee (5.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg), 5-8 G Jaclyn Vocell (7.5 ppg).

Outlook: UMaine, coming off Wednesday’s loss to Binghamton, faces Brown in its final nonleague game. This game features contrasting teams as the taller Black Bears feature a potent frontcourt while Brown is a smaller, guard-oriented club. As likely will be the case all season, UMaine must be able to handle defensive pressure and limit turnovers against Brown, whose opponents are averaging 21.9 per game. UMaine has logged 21.3 per outing. Brown, which has lost three of its last four, is coming off a Dec. 31 win over Alabama State. Common opponents include Rhode Island and Ole Miss, with Brown losing by a combined 13 points and the Bears dropping those games by a total of 37 points.