UMaine capsules

Women’s basketball

MAINE vs. STONY BROOK

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

Records: Maine 6-10 (2-3 America East), Stony Brook 10-6 (3-2)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 7-2; Maine 76-59 on 3/2/05

Key players: Maine – 5-8 G Ashley Underwood (13.1 ppg, 2.5 apg, .372 3-pt. pct.), 6-1 G/F Bracey Barker (12.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg, .769 FT pct.), 6-3 C Abby Schrader (11.7 ppg, 9.4 rpg), 6-2 F Katie Whittier (9.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, .660 FG pct.), 5-6 G Margaret Elderton (4.4 ppg, 2.4 apg), 5-8 G Kris Younan (1.4 ppg, 1.7 apg); Stony Brook – 5-8 G Mykeema Ford (16.9 ppg, 5.6 apg, .414 3-pt. pct.), 6-0 F/C Jessica Smith (16.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.3 spg), 5-8 G Sidney Orndorff (8.5 ppg, .824 FT pct.), 6-1 F Dana Ferraro (7.1 ppg, 12.2 rpg), 5-10 G Jessie Boylan (4.4 ppg)

Outlook: The Bears open a tough stretch of four games against the league’s top teams, including three on the road. Maine could be without leading scorer Underwood, who has an ankle injury, which would further hamper its sporadic offense. The Seawolves have two potent offensive threats in Ford and Smith, while Ferraro is AE’s dominant rebounder. SBU gets a lot of shots, which means the Bears must limit second chances and shoot well themselves. The Seawolves also could pose problems with defensive pressure, as they’re averaging 10 steals in league games. Maine must play sound transition defense. The Bears, 1-6 on the road this season, have beaten SBU seven straight times.

Men’s basketball

MAINE vs. STONY BROOK

Time, site: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 7-11 (2-5 America East), Stony Brook 3-14 (1-6)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 9-3; Maine 76-63 on 1/30/05

Key players: Maine – 6-2 G Ernest Turner (16.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.2 apg), 6-1 G Jon Sheets (9.7 ppg, 2.9 apg, 2.7 rpg), 5-10 G Rashard Turner (9.7 ppg, 3.3 apg, 2.7 rpg), 6-6 F Philippe Tchekane Bofia (9.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg), 6-4 G-F Chris Bruff (6.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg), 6-10 C Olli Ahvenniemi (6.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.4 bpg); Stony Brook – 5-11 G Mitchell Beauford (16.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg), 6-5 F Mike Popoko (10.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg), 6-2 G Bobby Santiago (9.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.6 apg), 6-1 G Antwan Hardy (7.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg), 6-4 G Tre Cunningham (6.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg)

Outlook: The Black Bears are going for their sixth straight win over the Seawolves and need a win to get back some of the momentum they created with back-to-back conference wins and then lost with a disappointing 83-62 loss to a previously struggling UMBC squad. The Seawolves are also struggling, but that doesn’t mean much in a topsy-turvy AE right now. Maine enjoys a slight size advantage, so look for the Bears to pound it inside with a solid Bofia-Ahvenniemi-Bruff rotation. Bench strength should also be a factor and Maine, on paper, appears to have the deeper corps of reserves. The Seawolves are averaging 14.2 turnovers, 55.5 points, and 31.6 rebounds a game while Maine is averaging 15.8, 65.6, and 34.8, respectively.