MAINE vs. BINGHAMTON

Time, site: Wednesday, 7 p.m.; Events Center, Vestal, N.Y.

Records: Maine 8-5 (2-0 America East), Binghamton 4-10 (0-1)

Series, last meeting: Maine leads 7-3, Binghamton 69-64 on 2/04/06

Key players: Maine – 6-1 F Bracey Barker (15.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.9 bpg, .552 FG pct., .919 FT pct.), 5-8 G Ashley Underwood (13.3 ppg, 2.5 apg), 6-2 F Katie Whittier (10.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg, .917 FT pct.), 6-1 F Lindsey Hugstad-Vaa (7.6 ppg, .557 FG pct.), 5-8 G Kris Younan (7.0 ppg, 2.5 apg), 5-7 G Abby Greene (3.9 ppg, 2.6 apg); Binghamton – 6-1 G Laura Sario (13.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg), 5-7 G Rebecka Lindgren (9.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, .500 3-pt. pct.), 6-1 F Brianna Thompson (8.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg), 6-2 C Laine Kurpniece (8.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg), 6-2 C Juta Jahilo (5.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg)

Outlook: The Bears, who beat Albany Sunday, continue their road swing against the Bearcats. Barker’s quick return from injury has bolstered a more balanced UMaine lineup. Binghamton is coming off Monday’s nonleague win over Cornell, which snapped a three-game losing streak. The contest features two teams with plenty of frontcourt punch. The Bears likely will need solid scoring production from the guards and probably will play Barker away from the basket more often to create a mismatch. UMaine must contain the slippery Sario and contest 3-point threat Lindgren. The Bears must solve a Binghamton team that has allowed only 58.5 ppg and has proven itself a tenacious rebounding unit.