Women’s basketball

MAINE vs. HOLY CROSS

Time, site: Thursday, 7 p.m., Hart Center, Worcester, Mass.

Records: Maine 5-1, Holy Cross 3-6

Series, last meeting: Holy Cross leads 5-3, Maine 77-67 on 1/2/06

Key players: Maine – 6-1 F Bracey Barker (17.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.8 apg, .603 FG pct., .926 FT pct.), 5-8 G Ashley Underwood (12.2 ppg, 2.5 apg), 6-2 F Katie Whittier (8.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg), 5-10 G Amanda Tewksbury (6.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg), 5-7 G Abby Greene (4.2 ppg, 2.7 apg), 6-2 C Lindsey Hugstad-Vaa (6.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.5 apg); Holy Cross – 6-4 C Kaitlin Foley (13.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg), 5-9 G Laura Aloisi (11.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 6.7 apg, 2.8 spg), 6-2 F Brittany Keil (9.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg), 5-10 G Briana McFadden (7.9 ppg), 6-1 G Ashley McLaughlin (4.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.0 apg)

Outlook: The Bears head back on the road for the second of six straight nonleague games away from Orono. They also play Sunday at St. Joseph’s (Pa.). UMaine encounters Patriot League entry Holy Cross, which has lost three in a row, including games against Boston College and Connecticut. The Bears, seeking their fifth straight win, haven’t played in eight days, since a 72-61 win at Dartmouth. UMaine will try to match up with a tall Crusaders squad that features Foley at center. Hugstad-Vaa could draw that defensive assignment for the Bears, who also will have to make a concerted rebounding effort. UMaine must move the ball effectively to get open shots rather than play a one-on-one style.