UMaine capsules

Women’s basketball

MAINE vs. HARTFORD

Time, site: Saturday, 4 p.m.; Chase Family Arena, W. Hartford, Conn.

Records: Maine 8-16 (4-9 America East), Hartford 21-3 (13-1)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 37-9; Hartford 73-55 on 2/1/06

Key players: Maine – 6-1 G/F Bracey Barker (13.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg, .821 FT pct.), 5-8 G Ashley Underwood (13.1 ppg, 2.6 apg, .818 FT pct.), 6-3 C Abby Schrader (11.2 ppg, 8.5 rpg), 5-6 G Margaret Elderton (5.2 ppg), 6-1 F Lindsey Hugstad-Vaa (4.1 ppg); Hartford – 6-1 F Danielle Hood (13.3 ppg, 4.6), 6-0 F Erica Beverly (10.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg, .551 FG pct.), 5-9 G Erika Messam (10.2 ppg, 3.7 apg), 5-9 G Ikea Witt (9.5 ppg), 5-10 G Marylynne Schaefer (7.2 ppg, .370 3-pt. pct.)

Outlook: The Bears not only must try to bounce back from Wednesday’s second-half collapse at UMBC, they have to try to do it against the league-leading Hawks. Making matters worse, Hartford had its 15-game win streak snapped Wednesday at Stony Brook. UMaine continues to lack enough consistency and depth to contend with most AE opponents. With three regular-season games left, the Bears cling to seventh place and still have a chance to stay out of a play-in game. Hartford already has wrapped up the top seed for the tournament, which it will host. The Hawks, who formerly gave UMaine fits with their quick guards, also feature two tough post players in Hood and Beverly. The Bears will have their hands full but can’t be counted out if everybody plays well.

Men’s basketball

MAINE vs. STONY BROOK

Time, site: Sunday, 1 p.m.; SB Sports Complex, Stony Brook, N.Y.

Records: Maine 11-15 (6-9); Stony Brook 4-22 (2-13)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 10-3; Maine 62-56 on 1/25/06

Key players: Maine – 6-2 G Ernest Turner (15.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg), 5-10 G Rashard Turner (9.9 ppg, 3.0 apg, 2.5 rpg), 6-4 F Philippe Tchekane Bofia (9.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg), 6-1 Jon Sheets (9.4 ppg, 2.8 apg, 2.6 rpg), 6-4 F Chris Bruff (6.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg), 6-10 C Olli Ahvenniemi (6.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.6 bpg); Stony Brook – 5-11 G Mitchell Beauford (14.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg), 6-5 F Mike Popoko (10.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg), 6-2 G Bobby Santiago (9.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.7 apg), 6-1 G Antwan Hardy (7.9 ppg, 2.7 rpg), 6-4 G Tre Cunningham (6.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg), 6-5 G-F Solomon Bamiro (4.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg)

Outlook: The Black Bears have picked up much-needed momentum heading into the postseason with back-to-back, come-from-behind wins – both of which came in dramatic fashion. The Bears can clinch seventh place and a Saturday quarterfinal date with either Binghamton or Albany and still have a shot at sixth place as well. Maine is averaging 64 points, 34.3 rebounds, and 15.1 turnovers per game while the Seawolves are averaging 57.1 points, 31.3 rebounds, 9.3 turnovers per game and head into their regular-season finale with a seven-game losing streak. Although the Seawolves have struggled statistically, they do a good job of taking care of the ball, so turnovers will be a key as well as rebounding. The key to the Bears’ success is ball movement and freeing up shooters.

Women’s hockey

MAINE vs. BOSTON COLLEGE

Time, site: Saturday, Sunday, noon; Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 16-7-6 (8-7-4 Hockey East); BC 18-9-4 (15-3-1)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 10-5-4; BC 5-3 on 10/16/05

Key players: Maine – C Brigitte Laflamme (14 goals, 14 assists), D Kelly Law (7 & 17), D Julie Poulin (7 & 17), RW Sonia Corriveau (10 & 11), C Cheryl White (14 & 6), G Genevieve Turgeon (8-6-4, 2.23 goals-against average, .893 save percentage), G Rachel Gettings (6-1-1, 1.26, .935); BC – C Deborah Spillane (16 & 17), RW Sarah Feldman (13 & 16), C Becky Zavisza (15 & 11), LW Meghan Fardelmann (9 & 10), D Maggie Taverna (7 & 10), D Cristin Stuart (2 & 10), G Alison Quandt (15-6-2, 1.98, .908)

Outlook: BC is 4-0-1 in its last five meetings against the Bears. Maine outshot BC 20-15 in its October loss. BC is riding a five-game winning streak and the Eagles have won 12 of their last 14. They are ranked 10th in the country. Maine needs a win or a Connecticut loss to Providence to clinch a Hockey East tourney bid. Maine has won four of five and is 6-2-1 in its last nine. Maine will have to keep an eye on the line of Fardelmann-Spillane-Feldman. Maine is second in the conference in power play and penalty-killing percentage. Spillane was the league’s Player of the Week and Quandt was the Defensive Player of the Week. Maine senior centers Amy Quirion and White and defenseman Morgan Janusc will be playing their last games at Alfond Arena.